'.
SHORTAGE OF SOFT
COAL THREATENS
CITY INDUSTRIES
Bituminous Supply Greatly
Diminished and Consum
ers Anxious
WAR INCREASES PRICES
Soft Coal Prices Soar
to Abnormal Height
HOW bituminous coal prices
quoted 'spot market f. o. b. nt
mines today, compare with the
normal nriccs:
Normal
SmoVrlfw; ..im..h1.W
.tnhloihr UUcki .15
Fllrtnent ,..i ...... 1. 15
ralrtn.nl .......... .o'
itMktnt S-lnh Inmp I nni
Central HllnoU (Inmp) t.JOi
Coka t.tSI
1.00
l.SS
t. in
I.OO
t.oo
8.30
. rrwni
S4.t905 00
3 15WS.B0
S.7S9.00
ynoft,...
4 OOftHOO
t.SOAt.lft
7.0007.50
.Bituminous coal, tho aoft variety, threat
en! to rival In pries and exceed In scarcity
the supply of anthracite.
Philadelphia, with Ita numerous big man
ufacturlnff plants. Is one of the largest
consumers of bituminous coal In the coun.
try. and Its proximity to the vast mining
centers of Pennsylvania and West Virginia
baa hitherto made It mora nearly Immune
from coal famines In times of stress than
ether and teas-favored parts of the Union.
Today many Philadelphia manufacturers
are glancing anxiously at their diminishing
stocks of fuel, the while they note reports
from the coal fields that the spot prices are
three to four times greater than the nor
mal prices of a year ago. In addition the
shortage of transportation facilities com
plicates the situation, oven when these
hither costs of purchase are met.
Envied by his fellow users of bituminous
coal Is he who exercised n business fore
sight and early In the season, beforo the
situation assumed an acuto stage, bought
sufficient coal to last until the year's end,
tren though obliged thereby to Incur addi
tional expense for storage.
Many of the city's largest consumers of
toft coal ore declared to have Insured them,
selves against the very condition riowcon.
frontlng the country and to be "stocked
lip" several months ahead. The Bureau
of Water, the greatest consumer of coal
In the municipal category, has under con
tract enough coal to last until the end of
tho year. Regarding next year's supply,
Chief Davis, of the bureau, belleCB that
whatever contingency may arise the coal
companies and the railroads may be re
lied upon to take care of the city so that the
water works, pumping stations and filtra
tion plants wltl not have to closo down.
"I 'believe the railroads would divert ship
ments from Individual consumers In such a
case rather than have the entire commu
nity suffer," was Mr. Davis's comment. The
United Gas Improvement Company, the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and
Philadelphia Electric Company are said to
have an adequate reserve supply,
CAIt SHORTAGE BLAMED
Car shortage, which prevents relief, Is the
explanation given by the mine owners and
coal handlers. The same conditions are
held to affect the anthracite shipments, but
tho visible supply of hard coal Is believed
t6 be more satisfactory than that of the
bituminous branch of the trade.
Barley, rice and buckwheat, the smallest
sixes, aro most seriously In demand and
hardest to get, It Is said. These are used
to a great extent In the furnaces of manu
facturing concerns. Many of these facto
ries, especially In the Iron and steel Indus
tries and In fields Identified with the making
of war supplies, have been working as never
before during the past spring and summer,
and their contracts are such that the fur
naces are roaring day and night to keep up
with orders.
The result has been, say the coal dealers,
a demand for fuel that la virtually unpre
cedented. In order to get the coal without
delay these manufacturers, reaping big bo
nuses from foreign contracts, were willing
to pay, and did pay, higher prices for Imme
diate delivery. The quantity of coal usually
stored up for fall and winter trade has suf
fered accordingly, while the diversion of lo
comotives and cars to rush the manufac
tured product of war-choked-order factories
and mills Europeward has decreased, the
available transportation facilities which oth
erwise might now be employed to haul the
eoal to Its normal users.
INDUSTRY CREATING IDLENESS
Unless there Is some let-up In this situa
tion the anomaly of Industry creating Idle
ness Is foreseen by men familiar with the
soft coal trade.
Prices have advanced. In some cases, nt the
rate of seventy-five cents a day, without di
minishing the demands of the war-Inflated
Industries, which pay no heed to the Increas
ing rates so long as they can get the neces.
iT 'ueL Tho "sular customers of the
mining companies, who are not engaged In
war contracts, feel the pinch of the scarcity
jmefSL
Coal
fei!
sSrl,
i
f
I
'
I"
J
1
v-r
m
i
;.
The unusual condi
tions in the coal situa
tion are being reported
by the newspapers
with more or less ac
curacy. It is true that there
is much uncertainty
about future prices
and deliveries.
This company is ad
vising its customers to
Eromptly fill their coal
ins. At this moment
we have cpal in all
sizes, and weather con
ditions are "favorable
to immediate delivery.
There is, however,
no assurance as to the
future. Filling your
bins nov is no more
than a wise precau
tion, as no one can
forecast future de
velopments, either as
to delivery or prices.
, $7.50; Stove, $7,75;
Chestnut, $8.00; Pea,
$5.71; shet fat. Carrfcd,
25c h Um extra.
CI COMPANY
EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2. 1916
""'" "I '
LEADERS OF TIOGA'S BIG JUBILEE
These men are responsible for this year's jubilee, nn annual event in
i' U?,11, Above, at the left, is Wilbur H. Zimmerman, chairman of tho
Jubilee Committeo; in the center is Louis Gilbert, head of the Mr
parado tonight; above, at tho right, is Colonel Arthur Swayne, chief
marshal of tho parado. At the left, below, is. Matthew J. Donohoe,
.secretary of the jubilee committee, and at tho rfght, E. C. Snyder, Jr.,
treasurer.
and -upward trend In coat, and some of
them. In this city and elsewhere, report that
unless conditions brighten and they are able
to get the coal required to keep their fires
burning they may be forced to suspend until
the pressure Is relieved.
,.Innulry at the local headquarters of
the largest coal handling companies today
yields almost unanimously the explanation
summarized above, Tho demand Is ab
normal, say the agents. The diversion of
cars to other use prevents prompt delivery
from mine to customer, and, like other
crises, the blow falls heaviest upon the
small consumor, who has neither tho credit
nor the storage facilities of his bigger com
petitor to anticipate such n shortage.
Denial that there Is any manipulation nt
the mines or artificially created famine Is
universal among the sales agents and rep
resentatives of the coal concerns. They
declare that such action would lay them
open to Federal prosecution for conspiracy.
If the railroads would provide cars, they
say, relief would be speedy, not only In
the bituminous end of the coal trade, but
In the anthracite branch as well.
The Reading Coal and Iron Company,
the largest shipper from the Schuylkill re
gion to this city. Is utilising -the Schuylkill
Canal ns far as possible for Philadelphia
shipments In nn endeavor to overcome In
part the transportation problem. The Bel
mont and Queen lane stations of the 13u
reau of Water, as well as many Industries
located along the river bank, are benefiting
by this water delivery. Coal barges are also
being employed to a greater extent for
terminals on-lhe Delaware River front and
to tidowater. Vhero railroads were previ
ously used almost cxclustely.
While the territory In the Philadelphia
district Is suffering to some extent by rea
son of the Impaired transprotatlon, condl
t'ons In other sections are reported to be
much worse. Interstate Commerce Com
missioner McChord has left Washington for
Louisville, Ky when; tomorrow he will
hold conferences with representatives of
eastern, southern and a few of the west
ern railroads, together with State railroad
commissions nnd shippers concerning the
general car shortage, which Is tying up traf
flo and affecting tho prices of coal and other
necessaries. Commissioner McChord, In
asking the eastern trunk lines to have rep
resentatives at the conference, pointed out
that tho shippers had charged that the car
riers recehed cars for export wl&out as
surance of water shipping facilities and
permitted the use of cars for storage.
U.S. READY TO TAKE
TRADE SHIPS FOR WAR
Plnns Complete for Impressing
All Merchant Vessels if They
Should Be Needed
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2. Tho Govern
ment ts now virtually ready to take over
all merchant esscls desired for auxiliaries
In case of war.
Blank contracts ate being drawn by the
Navy Department, It was learned today.
When completed they will lack only the
prices to be paid for the easels and the
signatures of the owners. The prices will
depend on trade conditions at the time of
the possible selection.
Naval officers v. ho vill command the
ships In case of war already have been
selected. Plans of the Navy Department
show the tjpe of gun which could be mount
ed on each esscl.
The tssels would be uwjt to carry troops,
fuel and general supplies In most cases.
They would not be armored and guns would
be mounted only for self-protection.
In many cases builders of merchant ves
sels aro sending to the Navy Department to
find what typo of merchant vessel Is best
suited to service In case of war. Plans
specifying composite merchant ships and
naval auxiliaries are forwarded In each
case. The Navy Department expects In this
way to build up a great fleet of merchant
vessels which In the event of war would
need no changes In structure to be taken
into the naval sen Ice. Ample funds are
available to obtain equipment for these If
It should be needed. Congress at Its lost
session appropriated money for the purpose.
BANQUETS, 75c UP
tfansGom's
BANQUET HALLS
929 Market Str
1221 Chestnut Street
DU are fflllns u rspUlr
Unique Scarf Pin
A marquise -shaped dia
mond surrounded by caliber-cut
sapphires and
small diamonds; unusual
and artistic. $250.00.
S. Kind & Sons
Diamond Merchants
Jewelers-Silversmiths
1110 Chestnut Street
Trie Overcoat
I pictured in
vrtiivminrl'c ova
is probably hefe
Perhaps your idea of what
you want in a new overcbat is
a little bit vague-or, on the
other hand, perhaps you know
just what you do prefer.
In either case see US" we tcan help you to a
satisfactory decision if in doubt, or in all prob
ability have just the overcoat that has been in
your mind's eye if you have a definite notion
regardipg it.
The greatest variety of reallu hlah-class over.
ats in Philadelphia is right here all undesir-
co
ables. are, barred admission.
, Gentlemen's Overcoats
$15 to $65
Jacob Reed's Sons
1424-1436 CHESTNUT S.
,
X"
U. OF P. FACULTY DIVIDED
ON ELECTION OUTCOME
Penniman and Lcwla Expect
Hughes to Win Chcyney
Sees Wilson Victory
Members of the faculty of the University
of Pennsylvania expressed a vnrlety of
opinions today concerning the outcome of
the presidential election next Tuesday.
.A ..rrovosl Penniman said he was sure
that Hughes woutd be elected, while Prof
Ilalph Cheyney, hend of the history de
partment, declared that Wilson would bo
elected.
"Hughes will win." raid Mr. Tennlman.
"because he has virtually the wholo He.
publican party back of htm. Wilson was
elected In 1913 by n split In the Hepubllcan
party, but now he has no chance of re
election because the Hepubllcan party has
been reunited "
'The American people." said Professor
Cheyney, "are grateful because Wilson has
Kept them out of war. TMb Is a campaign
Issue which Is going to prove the undoltu
of the Hepubllcan party at the polls nex
Tuesday. The American people are pretty
well satisfied with the record of Wilson,
and few can see any necessity, of n change
at this time. The Republicans are putting
up some fine arguments at this time, but
they cannot obscuro one fact, and that Is
that the young men of this1 country are not
fighting somebody else's battles In tho
trenches of Europe."
William Draper Lewis, of the Law School,
says he Is certain that Hughes will be
elected.
"Hughes," he said, "will be elected be
cause the American people have good horse
sonse."
"Pnlntcr" Thief Busy in TioRa
The "painter." who has been robbing
houses In North Philadelphia and Tioga,
continues his method of entering homes and
ttking Jewelry nnd small sums of money.
Two such robberies were reported to the
police today. The homes of Mrs. Hazel
Whelen, 3630 York road, and William Dosha.
I61D Jorth Ninth street, were robbed of
money and Jewelry.
Peace League to Give Dinner
NEW YORK. Nov. 2. At a dinner to be
given In this city on November 24 "to con.
sldcr a program for a permanent league of
nations to become effective nt tho cloe of
the present war." an nggressUe speaking
campaign throughout tho United States to
explain the objects sought by the League to
Fnforce Peace will be opened.
Enjoy a Wonderful
Surprise
Here's a new rye bread. Deliciously nutty
in flavor, delicate yet firm in texture, with a
golden brown crust, tender and "crunchy."
i-
aivr or
Re
With Seed
ead
Without Seed
Made from the
finest rye flours
blended to develop
the utmost deliciousness,
and baked to perfection.
titef&A WUNDERBAR
Rye is more digestible and
healthful, more nutritious,
10c
Keeps fresh and
moist for days. Get
a loaf of lk.;AZZL
WUNDERBAR RYE
BREAD tomorrowatyour
grocer's. Make sure that
the loaf carries the label
fyuiAefak WunderbarRye.
wnummmmmamnm
"
: ::
Marlon & DeMany ;
1 1 15 Chestnut Street
Opp. Keith's
The First Friday in November
Is Always a
Very Busy Fur Day With Us -
Our season is on, and our stock is especially prepared with a plentiful assortment of new and
current fashion models.
The seasonable weather prompts you to an immediate selection, and the "small-profit" specials
the" urh WaiVG yUr mind any dubt aS t0 whether yu can economically make
'
Selected French Seal Coat
Seal or Contrasting Collar?
74.50 'J
Special Value
Hudson Seal Coats
45-inch Flare Model
110.00
Persian Lamb Coats
40-inch Model
135.00
Hudson Seal Coats
40-inch Flare Model
135.00
Fur Scarfs
4
Black Fox , 16.00
Red Fox 22.50
Skunk 22.50
White Fox 25.00
Kamchatka Blue Fox , . .27.50
Pearl Grey Fox 27.50
Taupe Wolf , 27.50
Black Lynx 35.00
Slate Fox 37.50
Hudson Seal Coats
6-inch Skunk Border and Collar
145.00
Fur Scarfs
Raccoon i . . 15.00
Hudson Seal ., 15,00
Ermine ,.....' 29.50
Dyed Blue Fox 37.50
Cross Fox . . .37.50
Battleship Grey Fox 37.50
Poiret Fox 37.50
Pearl Grey Fox 42.50
Silver Fox .' . . .97.50
Fur Sets
Beaver 35.00
Slate. Wolf 59.50
Moleskin 65.00
Red Fox 69.50
Fisher 74.50
Cross Fox 85.00
Slate Fox 98.50
Dyad Blue Fox . , . . ; 100.00
Evening Hats
for Formal
Occasions
In black, gold and silver laces of ex
quisite, original design, best work
manship. 10.00 up
Muffs
'In thm JVw Carta, Morrti,
Ball er Flat She?.
Raccoon 15.00 to
Hudson Seal , . AtM to 31
Beaver ,ZZJf to
Black Fox. . . v , . . . . 154UI
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