The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-30

not go beyond $S.25 in the course of the
coming winter but that prices for each
successive month, from now until April
1 next, have been fixed beyond all like
lihood of change and that they will be
as above stated. One well known dealer
in discussing the effect of the present
manner of fixing prices said:
Sales for Next Winter.
I'm the month of April the local deal
ers have sold considerable coal for next
winters consumption-more than ever be-
fore since hard coal has been sold here
and I should say without hesitation that
the tendency throughout the summer will
be to buy earlier than usual That I
should attribute to the fact that the
prices for the entire year have been fixed
and the consumer knows just what lie
will have to pay if he waits until fall
and just what he can gain by buying at
any time earlier. He knows that coal
will not be any cheaper and that by buy
ing now he can save Is per cent on his
money"
Speaking of the present state of the
market as compared with past conditions
the same dealer said:
In years gone by there have been a
great many times in the summer months
when competition among the dealers
brought coal down to ridiculouSly low
figures, such as Sc or 81 a ton but 1 will
say that times have been very rare in
the winter season when the price has
| been as low as $S.25 a ton. And / think
1t sale to say that under the present
order of things that possibility of aston
| lshingly low prices is forever past. al
though the result Of the present man.
ner of handling the market keeps the
fore. S--''--
"One advantage of the present condi
ton is that it places all buyers on an
absolute equality and the man of wealth
who buys large quantities is not able to
| get any more favorable prices than his
| poorer neighbor who buys only a few
| tons. We do not make any more large
| contracts for future delivery at present
prices and IN fact we have forgotten
now the word contract is spelled and
have torn up all of our old contract
| blanks" : : :
Going somewhat into the history of the
| present community of interest among
said:
Strike Caused Combination.
The combination was a result of the
big strike of the coal miners in Septem-
/ Der, 1900. The dealers saw that in order
to cope with the situation it would be
necessary for them to come to an under
standing among themselves for Their.
mutual protection and the present svs-
tenn was put into effect with the new
season which opened April 1, 1901 TINS
plan which fixed prices at the mines.
seaports and shipping points, with month
~ discounts for shipments and delivery
during the spring and summer months,
originated with A. A. Mcleod, who died
April IL at New York, and who was at enc
time a well known railroad man of the
Northwest and located at this city He
evolved the scheme as early as 1891, but
| at that time 1t was for various rea sons
found to be impracticable.
This plan as operated in the year be-
/ ginning April l, 1901, was found to be so
| beneficial to the trade in general that it
has been continued for the present year.
which began with the present month. .
Soft CoaI Men Organized.
Further inquiry DEVELOPED the fact that
as predicted in the columns of T h !
Clio be some time since the soft coal