Robert Hemingray in Terre Haute looking for coal

PROSPECTS OF

COAL FAMINE

PROSPECT OF ANOTHER BLOCKADE

IN INDIANA FIELD.

Railroads Thought to Be Unable to

Deliver the Product of

the Mines Promptly.

Manufacturers in its Gas Belt Towns

Take a Dubious Look at the

Situation.

A special from Terre Haute gives the following rather unfavorable forecast of the outlook for fuel this winter.

"There is no longer difference of opinion as to the prospect for a repetition of last winter's difficulty in getting Indiana coal to market. Those operators who a few weeks ago thought the supply would meet the demand see in the present blockade that which foretells another winter of excited demand for coal and inability to deliver it promptly. Buyers are already arriving in Terre Haute to bid for the first shipments. Every operator in the state is behind, in his orders. The Vandalia and the Big Four cannot take the coal from the southern Indiana fields offered to them by the Southern Indiana and the Evansville & Terre Haute roads. Both the former roads lack motive power to keep the yards in Terre Haute clear and nearly all the time for two weeks past have had an embargo on freight except perishable goods. Yesterday the Southern Indiana sent one of its coal trains through to Logansport over the Michigan district hauling forty-one cars of coal. This through service by the southern Indiana probably will continue during the winter.

'"Robert Hemingray, of the Hemingray glass factories in the gas belt, was here yesterday. He said: 'I don't know what we are going to do for coal. It is almost impossible to secure any of it in the gas belt. The railroads are all tied up. I came down here to see if I could manage to get some, but the condition is worse here.'

"Last winter after the gas belt industries had paid two prices for coal and then ran short most of the time, mutual companies were formed which brought coal lands in this section and prepared to operate their own mines, but it is now seen that no matter how much coal may be mined the difficulty will be in gettin it to their factories.

"Terre Haute is enjoying a singular advantage in the situation. Coal by hundreds of carloads lies on the tracks here constantly. The operators, therefore, offer it at lower prices to Terre Haute industries, because the cars can be unloaded at once and, sent back to the mines. This quick delivery has resulted in a regular quotation of coal for Terre Haute at .25 less per ton at the mines."