Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-06
COAL.
Some of the Local Dealers Reasons For Low Prices.

Some Of the Local Dealers Reasons For Low Prices.
 The unsettled condition of the local trade in Waterbury at present and the pub lication in one of the weekly papers, set | ting out that one firm in particular were public benefactors has given the people a wrong impression of the true situation. A little over a month ago, owing to the decline in the price of coal at wholesale. | some of the dealers thought that the retail price should be fixed at a lower rste and a price fixed for quantity orders. so that people who were prepared to lay in a sup ply for next winter might take advantage of it and buy when the price was low. When the plan was suggested to the local manager of this particular firm he said he thought it a little early yet, and that we might get $5.75 per ton for a while longer. Was this beneftting the public? Again, | soon after this 1t became evident to the other dealers that, while this philanthropic firm advertised to sell coal for $5.75 per ton, they were at the same time soliciting orders at $5.25 and $5 per ton from certain parties and charging others $5.75. Was this beneftting the public. or was it get ting all they could out of the public and benefitting themselves by gaining custom CTS at a cut price?
 The sequel to this state of affairs is easy 10 be seen by any one; as soon as this firm found out that the other dealers knew that they were cutting on the sly, instead of putting the price down and giving all an equal chance as the other dealers selves, put coal down to $4 75, fearing that the other dealers might get ahead of them. If it was for the public benefit why are this same firm selling coal in Bridgeport atf$4. 50 per ton where coal costs 75 cents per ton less on account of the saw ing in freight? So it appears that the low price or coal in Waterbury is not due to the generosity or philanthropy of any one concern. but is the result of a disagree ment among the dealers, combined with the very low price of coal at wholesale
 Some people not knowing this conclude that it is all on account of the low price of coal but from the following prices which are the cost to the dealers of the best grades of coal delivered in Waterbury to-day viz Old Com Meadow. s4 50, Honeybrook, $4. 50, Hazel ton, $4 50, it will be seen that at to-dsy's prices there is no margin of profit at $4.50 per ton, at which price some of the dealers have been selling and such price on the best grades such as they are selling was only made possible by the fact that these dealers had several thousand tons bought and on the way which cost them less money. Like the dry goods men thay have been making special of this purchase. and the public have had the benefit. When this lot is sold the price must necessarily be advanced. It is plain therefore to be seen that no one firm is entitled to any particular credit for the low price of coal, but that the public are getting the benefit of disagreement among the dealers which is sure to be the result when any one dealer by unfair or underhanded means tries to get the advantage of others.
 THE CITY LUMBER < COAL Go
 F. J. HUMPHREY, See.
 JOHN MCELLIGoTr.
 WATERBURY LUMBER & COAL Co.,,
 J. $. GALLEY, Sec.
 CITY ICE Co,
 BY JOHN S. CASTLE,
 JOHN BYRON.