St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-09
BLACK DIAMONDS FIRM.
A Dealer Asserts That Coal Will
BE No Lower

To the Editor of the Globe.
Permit me the use of your news COL
umnS to answer an article entitled
Goal to Go Down." which appeared in
an evening paper couple of days ago.
Either the writer was ignorant of the
conditions of the coal business, or a
Misrepresentation Of the facts was ill.,
dulged in. The facts in the case are
these, that not only will the price of
coal not go down, but will advance very
materially; in fact $3.50 to $40 per ton
for hard coal will be no surprise to those
who understand the situation or who
are engaged in the coal business. may
ask why will the price of coal drop? Is
it because those who are associated in
the ''coal combine" who control over so.
per cent of the output of the Eastern
coal fields. are magnanimouS enough to
| reduce the price Oh philanthropic prin-
cipieS when they can just as well get an
extra dollar more per ton out of the con-
sumer as not? l don't think so. And |
am at loss to know what is the object
to be gained by publishing such false
and sensational articles as that which
appeared the other evening. unless it is
inspired by those members of the coal
combine who have a retail trade to
time, and delay the same late enough in
the season, by which they will anticipate
greater profits on their output by realiz-
ing upon the advanced prices which
will surely occur.
Now, as to the natural conditions of
the trade. The available supply of coal
on hand today Is less than it has been
i'll years. Scarcely shipper has full
complement of coal on hand today, nor
can II be secured, because OF the lack of
means for TRANSPORTATION on the lakes.
A great many of the lake craft are tied
up for lack of business this season.
Other years they could bring coal from
Buffalo at low freight rate. as thew
could recoup their loss by loading back
with iron ore or other merchandise
which is not moving today; and the
prospects are that the coal shippers
will be compelled to pay an advance of
lake freight in order to get in their full
supply of coal. Then again, the mines
are nearly all idle on account of the in
ability OF the operators to get the money
necessary to pay the miners wages,
thus reducing the output of coal. There
can be no fall in prices when
there is scarcity of coal. But
additional hardships imposed upon
the people brought OH by the present
money troubles. Merchants and citi-
Zens generally will find to their surprise
this year that they will not receive the
same courtesies this season as in former
years, when they were solicited by the
coal trade to put in their seasons sup
ply of fuel and pay for it when they
pleased. This season the coal men will
be obliged to demand pay for their coal
upon delivery. Thus it will be seen
that it is cruel hoax to thus deceive
the people of this community by throw
ing out the hope that prices upon one
of the necessities of life in this climate
will be reduced, when they will find
that instead it will steadily advance,
and thus increase the hardships which
must be endured. The price has al
ready advanced SOC per ton, being now
$3.50, as high as it was any time last
winter. 1t will make no difference with
the retailer whether the price will be
high or low, he will be allowed his 81
per ton margin for handling the same.
have no object to gain by the expo
sitlon of this article except to do an act
OF Justice and service to my fellow citi-
zens and thus put them in possession of
thetrqe state of affairs in the coal bust
ness. Yours respectfully.
JOHN G. HANLEY.