New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-15
COAL MUST COME DOWN.
DEALERS TELL OF POVERTY WHICH Is
NOT SUSTAINED BY FIGURES
THE PUBLIC ANXIoUsLY ASKING WHY PRICES
OF COAL REMAIN HIGH-ANswERs BY
THOSE IN THE TRADE-NoT A COAL
MAN FAILED IN 1893.

OF COAL REMAIN HIGH-ANSWERS BY
THOSE IN THE TRADE-Nor COAL
MAN FAILED IN 1893.
an Indispensable commodity. there is abundance
Of it. the supply has always kept up with the de-
mand and still the price is maintained
Everything In the mercantile line has been re-
duced in price Competition and the demands f the
public have br ugat drygoods. clothing. household
furniture ard everything from diamonds to shoe
strings 20 rock-bottom prices: breadstuffs and pro-
visions have never been cheaper the products Of the
Southern cotton fields as well as the Western grain
lands brought To- this market figures less by
far than any time for wears: stu quoted
here at prices which the consumer deems high and
which show little IL any. change from years ago.
The Tribune took up the subject q coal days
ago. but has made further inquiry into the of
the high prices. and finds that great diversity Of
opinion exists in the coal trade the real cause.
With few exec tions the merchants wholesale and
retail. defended the existing state # affairs and
each seems anxious to defend his ncighbcr. and,
while there IS cutting and slashlng in prices: while
coal dealers try 20 outsell another Will
say-for publcation-that his competitor charges too
much for his coal. The wholesaler defends the re-
taller. anu the retailer. after he has placed all the
blame for high prices the wholesale reliant.
Is sorry he spoke" ard is afraid lis freedom 81
opinion will be quoted against him.
Another fact becomes evident TO him who visits
the coal trade and that IS the elasticity OF prices
Many concerns that would resent being classed
awning bus hrst-rate. highly respectable, 2VD-
pounds-to- the-ton dealers. have an asking and Il
taking price. and the man who does MOI know the
secrets "i shopping VINO mas mo- learned the hign
art of beating down. pays more for has coal than
the man who is proficient in that accomplishment
TALKS WITH DEALERS
A. S Perham Of Cook & Perham No. Broad
way. was asked why the price OF coal has not
come down in proportion with other commodities
and said: coal is not like wheat or corn. WIKI a
good crop one year and poor one the next and
strclcst sense 0i the term. manufactured article
ana those who make 1t fix the price. The mer-
it. and many are not doing mat ! saw The Trib-
uncs statement a. To the price paid 10y one branch
OF the city Gov ,rnment; that price has no weight
IN the argument whatever. Large corporations
and departments frequently take JOB lots. odds and
ends. and coal that could not be sold to u rn'ail
dealer who wants uniform coal. .
The retail dealer. Notwithstanding the fact that
plant which the wear ana tear is exceedingly
great. makes less on his investment than most
Charles $. Phillips. of Parrish. Phillips & c,o
said Il The rrihunes statement about the
coal furnished II ~" Police Department At - 90 a
ton. and It's comments on the hiLn price pau by
private consumers IN comparison WIN That iis4re
Now. | say nothing about the police coal, but
] know all about the school coal. wnich am iur-
"Yon might ask" he SAID why should not any
consumer be able 20 get his coal at the same pric,F
ton taking a train load Of anything would naturally
be- entitled To better rates than DE VINO take " car
"}ut aside from that. YOU must know that the
ana Il would COST a; last - cents a ton to convert
II into stove szr and then. In order 70 nave ceah
screened AZ an additional expense Z 10 c"niS a
ton which brlnes the price 81 ne - . coz ut -
SuTcr "i here s"S In town OWN for 81. : a. ,on
The Tetacr has hart Strnss!e 10 ~ 'h -, I'.i i,
coal alongside costs. ~
Take from that II per cent. which is made on
weigh; -. 81
Leaves the cost alongside -