Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-15
THE DEALERS SIDE
Representative Coal Merchants Speak
onYAdvance in Price.
CONDITIONS WHICH CONFRONT THEM
Retailers Governed by the Recog-
nized Laws of Trade.
--ttr
STATEMENT BY MR.. WERNER

Anthracite coal prices today in Washing.
ton were S7.25 a ton for white ash and the
similar varieties popularity known as
stove" coal. and 81 for furnace coal. Be-
fore the strike the prices were 60 % and 81.
respectively. Many of the retail dealers
who advanced their prices because Of the
uncertain conditions, the advance in whole
sale prices and the impossibiity of ascer-
tanning where their future supply was to
come from felt that recent criticisms have
been unjust. and that the dealers side of
the question would show that the consum-
ers' side was not all there was to consider.
Mr. Charles Werner, president of the
Washington Coal Exchange. which COM
prises nearly all retail coal dealers in the
District, was referred to by many upon
whom a Star reporter called today
representative to give the dealers side.
and when the reporter called upon him he
readily consented to speak for the retail
trade.
1t seems to me-" said Mr. Werner, that
there is disposition in some quarters to
deny to coal dealers the same rights which
merchants in other lines of business are
accorded OF recognizing the law of supply
ana demand and conducting their affairs
accordingly. l do not know what dealer
1t was who charged the recent correspon-
Gent OF The Star $50 ton for coal. as he
stated In his communication, but If such
was the case, he was charged more than
the highest price during the strike, which
was. as it Is today. s7.25 a ton.
Inc stars correspondent. in common
with all other consumers, had the privilege
or buying his coal supply before the strike
was precipitated, and that he did not do 50
Is no reason why he should be entitled to
secure supply now at prices then charged.
we coal Dealers" continued Mr.. Werner,
must take care of our customers and our
contracts. Now take my own case. for in
stance. l managed to get Q little bit Of
coal today from small individual opera
tor at an advance of 81 .45 per ton. If this
advance was added to the former price be-
fore the strike of s6.25 per ton l would
charge $40 a ton for 1t. But 1t will go
a SI2o. l have contract with the Dis
trlct government to furnish anthrac cite coal
of two kinds. one at 1896 per ton and the
other at S5.OS per ton and am bonded in
$O,GOO TO carry out the terms of my con-
tract. The Reading company is unable to
furnish me ton. We coal dealers take
more risks than any other business men,
not excepting stock brokers. l can give
you an instance to bear me out. In 1875
ccal was $3.50 a ton. The Pennsylvania
and the Reading company had fight in
which the Reading went to the wall. T.
Edward Clark opened an Office in the Met
ropolitan Hotel and sold coal for $3.50 a
ton. No one registered a kick then. VIM.
H. Baum lost $4,000: George Bogus John
son Brothers and other big dealers suffered
heavily. Those conditions which
undeniabe. We pay the advance in whole
sale prices and when they drop We suffer
the loss.
Cost of Handling Coal.
II saw something about the cost of ham
ding ton of coal being so cents" con-
tinued Mr.. Werner. 81 have gone to great
trouble and expense in ascertaining just
what it costs me to handle a ton of coal at
different times in the year In computing
the cost 1 have not considered the interest
on the money invested In, my business. or
on the open accounts or any personal
count. on my dump, which l own my
self / have included clerks and drivers
hire. stable and office expenses. teleph1n
bills and office rent In my busiest month
the cost Of handling coal is just so cents: In
July, the dullest month, 1t was 80. 80 The
other months where differences occurred
showed the cost of handling ton of coal
to be 81 cents, IA cents, SO cents, 81 and
S1.O5
at is unjust for any one not acquaini ed
with the risks and uncertainties of the re-
tail coal business to jump at conclusions
and charge dealers with practicing extor-
ton when they are doing nothing of the
kind" said Mr.. Werner. in conclusion.
Coal. which we are selling at $.23 ton
retail Is selling in Philadelphia at $3.50
ton retail and Philadelphia is virtually at
the doorway or the coal regions. IL the
gentleman who proposes coal consumers
union will give me actual cost for my bust
ness l will gladly turn 1t over to him with
all It's anxieties and perplexities."
When asked If advanced prices were
charged for coal in stock that was bought
at prices prevalent previous to the strike.
Mr.. Werner replied that such was certainly
the case.
THE supply on hand was not very large.
but it was necessary for the dealers to pro-
tect themselves in their dealings with their
regular customers. Coal. like eggs. is gov
erned in price by the wholesale prices. If
a merchant has stock of eggs on hand
which he bought at 10 cents a dozen he
doesn't sell them at IL cents a dozen when
the wholesale price is IL cents, does he?
Hardly. Still. we don't hear charges Of ex-
tortion when other dealers in commodities
or necessities live up to the laws of trade
and meet fluctuations in prices they
come.
Mr.. j. Maury Doves Views.