St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-10
COAL PRICES BROKEN.
A CUT TO S7.75 PEP T0H rs PUB
EICLY ANNOUNCED.
ruRrHEs BREAK POSSIBLE.

Saving of 100000 to the Citizens
OF st. Paul-R. A. Walsh Re-
ports on His Chicago Visit
Work of subcommittee OF Five
Reviewed by the Chairman
New Move to Be Made Monday.
As predicted in the GLOBE of Friday
morning. there has been a decided
break in the price of coal. from $3.50 to
S7.75.
Members of the citizens committee to
secure cheaper coal-and especially the
members of the subcommittee of five
are feeling particularly jubilant over
the advertised reduction in price. At
S7.75 coal can now be purchased $L10
per ton less than was paid last winter.
"If," says Chairman j. III. Davidson, OF
the committee of fifty, "our citizens can
procure anthracite coal this winter at
an average reduction Of 81 per ton. that
means 100000 will be retained for other
uses which has heretofore been going
into the Golfers Of the chaps who ran
the combine. That is an achievement
which should convince all good citizens
that agitation pays. when it is based on
principles of Justice"
There are immense quantities OF coal
on docks In Minnesota and adjacent to
her borders at the present time. A vast
amount can, if necessary, yet be brought
to the head Of the lakes, to say nothing
of Milwaukee and Chicago. From an
interview with Hon. 4. A. Walsh, a
GLOBE reporter learns that coal can be
bought in Chicago, in any quantity above
the carload lot, at price which makes
1t possible to haul the fuel to st. Paul
and then sell it eveu cheaper than at
the advertised cut price. Such trans
action would. of course, be on cash
basis. The owners of the coal supply
are beginning to realize that the citi-
ZenS' committee means business. Even
though not all of it's members have
taken active part in the work, there
have been enough ready and willing to
help TO make success in the effort
almost certain. Failing to sell the fuel
on hand, the large handlers of coal, ana
the small ones, too, for that matter,
would find themselves in an undesirable
predicament. Hence the drop of 70
cents in one day.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WORK.
Chairman j. j. Ryder, of the suDcom-
mittee, had this to say last night: 1--WE
have been telling all inquirers that from
the best information obtainable we eX-
pected to see coal selling for at least 81
per ton less this winter than it sold for
last year. That statement was not
bluff. The public would be surprised
at some of the information in possession
of the subcommittee. We have had
personal interviews with many men
we'll posted on the coal business, who
feet friendly to the object in view, and
our messengers have gathered facts
enough to make it certain that the COM
mlttee of fifty can cheaper the, price of
coal. 1t is not the hope or desire to
deprive dealers of legitimate profit,
but there is this to be remembered:
Coal can be laid down at the head of
the lake up to Dec. at very cheap
rate, carried as ballast practically in the
boats that take our grain to Buffalo and
Canadian points. And this has been
the case all summer.
LAS for the local end of 1t, reSpon
sible gentleman stands ready to provide
necessary sheds here to store all the
coal that it may be necessary to arrange
for. Our bulletin requesting citizens TO
refrain from purchasing coal as long as
possible was not issued without consid-
Grafton, and its effect has been good.
With that notorious bureau gone to
smash, there is no hidden force to hold
dealers up to said prices, and the price
of coal will naturally find its Legitimate
level, if it has not at present.. which IS
doubtful. There will be no sales of coal
at loss, either. Col. Davidson and
myself will initiate movement Mon-
day, on the advice of the other mem-
beers of the committee, that we rely on
to cause further reduction of at least
so cents ton. While. of course, failure
is possible, we See no reason to doubt
that our effort will be successful What
that movement is l am not at liberty to
state for the preset. We are not going
to tip our hand until it becomes neces-
sary. One thing, think it is not out of
bounds TO say that coal will be pur-
chased cheaper than S7.75 per ton. If
this cannot be done, we shall tell the
public so frankly and in good time"
The main committee will be called to-
gether some day the present week.
Capt. Paul, factory Inspector OF the
state labor bureau, came from Duluth
yesterday. He reports steamers to be
carrying coal from Erie to Duluth at II
cents ton. The coal dealers have re-
| ported that it cost from 40 10 80 cents a
| ton TO transport the article.