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THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA RETAIL COAL DEALERS ENTERTAINED
BY THE PITTSBURGH COAL CO.
The wise saws and modern instances invented
by dyspeptic philosophers to prove that business
and pleasure will not ride in the same boat were
effectually disproved by the splendid success which
attended the fifth annual convention of the New
York and Pennsylvania Retail Coal Dealers' Association,
at Pittsburgh, and the four days' outing
of the delegates as the guests of the Pittsburgh
Coal Co. The party, numbering nearly four hundred,
assembled at Buffalo at noon on Tuesday,
June 20, where the delegates were met by Traffic
Manager S. P. Woodside and other officials of the
Pittsburgh Coal Co. A special train of fourteen
cars was boarded and Pittsburgh was reached via
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Pittsburgh
& Lake Erie railroads early the same evening.
At 10 o'clock Wednesday morning the special
train was again boarded and after a 12-mile
run over the Lake Erie and an additional five miles
over the Moon Run railroad the famous Moon Run
mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. was reached.
Under the direction pf the officials of the company
the delegates were shown the tipple and its
operation, a string of coal cars destined for
many points receiving their loads of coal and the
several market sizes.
The delivery of the coal to the tipple in long
trains hauled by an electric locomotive was shown
to them, as the "Pittsburgh Coal Co.'s idea of a
mule." Then they were placed in two long trains
of the pit cars, which had been lined with canvas
and straw and furnished with bench seats. The
ride through the mine was made interesting by
the information given by the employes and officers
of the company. At the end of the first stage of
the trip the party reached the power plant, fan
house, air compressing plant and repair shops and
were shown through these, many stopping to
watch the great machinery in action. Then they
were taken back through the mine and to the tipple.
The party reached Pittsburgh at 1 o'clock
and spent the afternoon as each desired.
The business meeting was held Wednesday evening
in the banquet hall of the Hotel Henry. Col.
William T. Endress was re-elected president, making
his third term. J. Scott Baldwin of Elmira,
N. Y., was chosen vice-president and Secretary-
Treasurer George H. Mitchell was re-elected. The
executive board was chosen as follows: Robert
J. Saltsman, Erie; O. W. Sears, Binghamton, N.
Y.; John Cornash, Corning, N. Y.; J. A. Hughes,
Falconer, N. Y.; B. U. Taylor, Olean, N. Y.; S. M.
Hamilton, Dunkirk, N. Y.; F. W. Stickney, Buffalo,
and Charles Bradshaw, Rochester, N. Y.
The address of welcome was delivered by Assistant
City Solicitor L. S. Levin and the response by
Col. Endress. Speeches were made also by D. L.
Tuttle, sales agent at Buffalo, of the Philadelphia
& Reading Coal & Iron Co.; Delos Hull, president
"Retail Coalman"; J. E. Van Dusen, who thanked
the Pittsburgh Coal Co., and J. P. Walsh, who responded
for the company. Secretary Mitchell reported
a membership of 640 before the meeting and
an increase of 45 at the convention.
Thursday was the red letter day of the outing
feature of the trip. At 9:30 a. m. the excursion
steamer Island Queen, which had been chartered
for the trip, started with the delegates, a number
of local guests and practically the entire official
staff of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. to look after the
general welfare and comfort of the party—for
Charleroi, 41 miles up the Monongahela. The boat
was laden almost to the guard rails with good
things for the inner man, all of which disappeared
at the two sumptuous meals and the between-time
snacks. As this was the last day of the visitors
at Pittsburgh, their hosts spared no efforts to give
it every attractive feature that could be devised.
An orchestra and a quartet were engaged to enliven
the trip and a variety of amusements and
diversions were provided.
The boat was in charge of Capt. John Moren,
superintendent of transportation of the River Coal
Co. In direct charge of the party were J. P.
Walsh, general manager of sales of the Pittsburgh
Coal Co.; George W. Schluederberg, general manager
of mines, and a score of other prominent
officials.
A side trip to the Homestead steel works caused
a change of program. The big plant consumed
nearly three hours of time. The visitors found
intensely interesting things there, and when the
boat started away it was promptly called back to
the wharf to take on board some who had been
delayed. Again it made a start and again was
forced to return, about 150 members of the party
having stayed too long at the works.
The boat continued up the river to Elizabeth.
The operation of the river tipples was explained
and the mines of 'the Pittsburgh Coal Co. and its
subsidiary company, the River Coal Co., were
pointed out. The building of steamers at the
Elizabeth ways was also shown and between the
times of dining and other festivities, some pretty
solid information was given the retail coal men.
The party reached Pittsburgh about 9 p. m., the
visitors returning home by special train the following
day.