Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
I HE PRICE OF COAL
Reputable Dealers Making No Advance to
Consumers,
The Extra Charges i'm Most Instances
Are Due to Increased Cost
Of Delivery.

There has been comparatively little in
crease in the price of coal among reputable
coal dealers of the city result of the
storm and the conditions in Washington.
A large majority of the coal dealers has
not attempted to take advantage of the
situation, and every purchaser in the city
will find pleHty of dealers who have made
no advance except for actual price of the
increased cost of delivery.
A peculiar state of affairs is that many
of the large retail dealers have been the
ores to take the greatest advantage of the
situation, and that throughout the city are
hundreds of coal dealers who stand ready
to treat their customers and the general
public squarely and fairly. Those who are
doing otherwise can be easily spotted by
purchasers who desire to remember the ex-
&C ting dealer when the storm has gone.
A number of coal dealers are without coal
ard are not taking orders at any prices.
Still large number of others will not take
an order for more than half or a quarter
of a ton. Many others have a good stock
on hand and are not charging extra for it
except for delivery. The question of de-
livery is said by coal men to be the worst
feature of the situation. The dealers did
not own enough wagons, carts and horses
to cope with the increased orders, and have
had to hire men and wagons TO deliver or
ders The charges for this hire have fire.
cuently been exorbitant, thus accounting
for the increase in the prices.
More than half of the humane retail
dealers have not increased the price OF
stove coal to the poor The prevalhhs
price in the city prior to the storm was -
cents bushel for good stove coal, either
white ash or Shamokin. Owing to the
of he
charge 80 cents, but many big hearted
men still supply the poor people with
bushels of coal at former prices. This is
where they go and take the coal away.
An instance of this is found in the case
of Fishbaugh 6, Co., 1880 l4th street north
west. They are selling their coal at sum
mer prices, with no extra charge except
the actual cost of delivery. They still sell
coal to the poor at twenty-five cents
busshel.
NJ. Colman, jr, 614 1 street southwest,
sells coal at twenty-five and thirty cents a
bu:shel in small quantities, and the increase
in price 10 heavier customers is only 81 per
ton to cover the cost of delivery.
In his case, as in all cases. the coal is not
puC in the houses and is dumped in the
most convenient spot for the customer, who
puts it in for himself.
Burgess < Son, Sth and streets north
west, claim that they have not raised the
price to either regular or transient Gus
toners. Owing to the difficulty Of delivery
they will not take orders for a ton or even
a half ton, except in a special case. They
take orders for one-fOurth of ton, dumped
at the house For either white ash or Sha-
mokin the charge is $40, just sufficient
increase to cover the cost Of hauling. They
say that they have had to pay as much as
So IA ton for the delivery of coal. They still
sell to bushel customers at - cents.
E. ]. Bentley, at ID and Florida avenue,
says he has not increased the price of coal,
and sells at the same old figures.
Daish & Co, on Florida avenue, among
the largest dealers in the city, say they
have advanced their charges about 81 on
the storm. they say. they have paid as
much as so day for teams to deliver coal,
these teams making only two and three
trips a day. Frequently they have used
four horses to each wagon
Hummer & Co, on street northeast be
tween Sth and 9th, sell only in one-fourth
ton orders, and charge $1.I5 put down at
the house
J. P Agnew & Co., Delaware avenue and
and are filling only those made several
days ago.
Mayfeld & Hieston, at 10Th and Canal
streets, say they will sell coal in their
yards at the same prices as before the
storm. They retail to the poor at % cents
a bushel and for delivery charge extra only
for the cost.
northeast; William J. Zeh, 1oS 18th street
northwest; V. Baldwin johnson, Goodacre
& 20. and others sell coal in small quauti-
ties at increased prices. Zeh and Miller d
Co. say they have also made slight adj
vanceS in the price of coal itself