The Washington times., 1901-09-03
HIGHER PRICES FOR COAL.
Retail Cost to Be Substantially
Advanced by Dealers.
Washington Consumers to Pny More
for Fuel This Winter Than Ever
j. EefOre-Figures Regulated by the
T Trust-0thcr Raises in Prospect.

With the coal bins of the city filled with
fuel, Washington is experiencing abnor-
mally high prices for coal This is due,
the local dealers declare, to the fact that
the Goal Trust has secured control of the
market. Washingtonians must now pay
s675 per ton for white ash stove coal, or
do without, and the probabilities are that
before the winter is past the trust will
advance the price 25~cents more per ton
The trust is in a position TO dictate, and
there is no redress.
Had the local consumer contracted for
his coal Saturday it world have cost him
$50 per toa. The advance became effect
I've yesterday by TIE edict of the Coal
Trust. The coal dealers say that they are
not to blame for the high prices The
prices are set for them by the trust. and
they are obliged TO sell. they declare at
the figures given. Another advance in the
price OF fuel is expected Immediately by
some dealers, and in some quarters it is
believed the increase may not occur with
in a week 1t is argued that there is no
natural reason for the advance in the,
market, as there Is nothing like a famine
tn the city. The coal bins in the yards of
all the large dealers are well supplied
Since last winter the price of white ash
stove coal has been $3.50 per ton This
valuation prevailed during the summer.
and the price of the fuel during the COM
Ing winter will be at least as great as
this. with the possibility that it will be
considerably higher.
One of the largest coal dealers in Wash
ington, discussing the coal situation yes
terdav sts.sd tha tin all probability an
advance IN the price Of coal would be
made at the dictation Of the trust within
a few days. He expected that coal would
bring s7oo per ton before the end of the
week The advance. he said was to have
been ordered yesterday, but for some
reason it was not made. and Washington
was given u new lease on its pocketbooks,
which will, however. not continue in
definitely
September was the date set by the
trust, II is understood. for general ad-
vancement in coal prices all along the
line That the advance was not made is
not regarded as having been due to the
generosity OF the coal magnstes Some
other motive is back of the delay In rails
ing the value of the fuels known to the
covetous trust. even though the cause is
beyond the comprehe nsion of the layman
According to this dealer coal viii he
higher this winter than ever before for
many years.
Another large dealer took a more seri-
Gus view of the coal situation God
knows that the price of coal is high
enough already, said he yesterday morn
ius, anu uon KNOW what the result
VIII be II the price continues to rise
Cdrfously enough, this dealer was in ap-
parent ignorance of the fact that there is
In existence sreh-a thing as a coal trust
According TO his statement he did not
know where the cause of the prevailing
high prices and the prospect of a further
increase could be located
Still another dealer said that the price of
coal would probably advance within a
day or two at least 25 cents making the
price per ton. He knew OF the exist
ence of the Coal Trust, and deplored the |
fact that such high prices prevail There |
V plenty OF coal in the city. he said al |
though the railroads are having some iif- |
ncuity In shipping, owing to the scarcity |
The indications are that there is a coal |
trus- OF considerable proportions in Wash |
ingfon. The prices for the fuel are the |
same at all of the large coal yards. show 1
Ing that they are regulated from some |
other source than the dealers themselves |
1t Is understood that there are a few
dealers In the city who belong to the |
Coal Trust, who sell coal quietly at prices /
considerably less than 1913 per ton one |
dealer in the southeast is selling coal and |
has been for some time. according 10 a |
statement made yesterday. at about sG25