Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-15
THE GOAL OUTLOOK
Prominent Dealers and Mine Opsr-
ators Say Prices Will Remain
About Stationary.
Do Not Anticipate Higher Figures
For Soft Coal the Coming
Season.
Hard Coal Likely to Be Higher
After the First of Next
Year.


Des Moines. Sept. 15.-There is to be
no change in the price of soft coal this
fall. The big coal operators of Des
Moines are unanimous in this opinion.
They declare the story published in an
east side paper is a canard. The big
mine operators say that it is just such
sensational and unwarranted reports as
this that occasions all the trouble with
miners and consumers.
The Polk county mine operators have.
held several secret meetings at which
the proposition to increase the price of
soft coal was considered Several of
the principal stockholders in large
mines advocated the increase, but they
We're voted down by big majority. In
discussing the situation yesterday.
coal dealer who is thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the plans of the mine owners,
said: The operators of Des Mones
have no intention of raising the price of
coal. They can't afford to do it, The
attempt to force UP the price was made
by green men at the business The old
timers, the men who have made and
lost great sums in the coal business,
know the danger of bulling the market.
The outcome is always unsatisfactory
There are TOO many elements that en-
ter into a combinat ton to increase
prices. In the first place. the moment
an increase should be announced every
office employe and teamster would en-
ter demand for increase of pay, to say
nothing of the howl for bigger scale
which would be heard from the miners.
No, sir, don't you worry about any in
crease of prices any time in the near
future
The report that there is a short sup
ply of coal is also denied by mine oper-
ators.
The whole thing is silly fabrica-
ton. is what Charles Worth said when
asked about the report of a short coal
supply and a contemplated increase in
prices. Mr.. Worth is manager of the
Bloomfield mine. which is no inconsid-
crate factor in the coal business in Des
Moines. "All the mine operators re-
greet that an attempt should be made.
to excite the people about the price of
coal. There is no occasion for it, We
Go not intend to increase the price. we
have no disposition to give outside deal
ers an opportunity to ship coal into
Des Moines. Nothing could weaken
the coal supply here unless it would be
an unexpected and unprecedented cold
spell before the usual time The coal
business is good in Des Moines, it has
been good all summer and fall, but we
are capable of taking care of our Gus
toners. The supply is greater than usu-
al at this time because the demand is
much larger. The railroads are buving
! more coal here than at any time before
this year. The mines are not running
full capacity vet, but they never do at
this time of the year. Miners who are
working on the street are satisfied to
hold down their jobs until they are
practically driven into the mines by
cold weather. Even then the scarcity
of labor may be felt, but not to such
an extent as would affect prices. The
coal operators are not disposed to at
tempt to secure fancy prices out OF
their local customers. They are salts
fed with present prices and as long as
the miners stand by the agreement on
the scale of prices entered into last
spring, there is no likelihood nor, in
fact, even an excuse for different pol
icy on their part
Frank Garrison, manager of the Ma
pie Grove mine said: There is nothing
Ein it. There is no intention to raise
prices. Why should we9 It is silly to
gay the supply of coal in Des Moines is
unequal to the demand. Why, we are
4 shipping coal out of Des Moines every
day. If there was any dangerous short
/ age here do you think we would do this?
i OF course the present supply is not very