Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-28
.RETAILs AT EIGHT DOLLARS.
Price Reduced by the Dealers Yes
terday from Nine Dollars.
COLD WAVES TO SEND PRICES UP

ing would Exhaust the supply
How the Prices Range Mt the
MineS-situntion in the kuna,vha
District--Miners in Demand.
There was drop yesterday in the price
of soft coal.
AT a meeting of the Goa! Dea lers' Asso-
citation it was decided to sell spiint coal
at sS, instead of 50. and to lower the
price of steam coal from 81 to $3.50 a ton.
They agreed to maintain the price of fire.
wood. and the price to-day will be 81 a
cord for oaE and SC a cord for pine
The meeting. it is said. was an execu-
tive session, but after consultation, it was
decided that the new prices should be
given to the press. The entire purpose
of the meeting, therefore, is not known.
but there. are indications that the coal
dealers recognized that they could not
maintain the high price of spiint at 50.
and lowered the selling price to IS to
stimulate sales and to prevent indiscrini-
nate cutting; by competitive retailers. It
is known that there is at least one re-
tail dealer who thinks the selling price
yet too high, and remains confident that
a reasonable profit could be made by sell
ing 10 the public al lower figure. This
gentleman is authority for the statement
that a profit can be made by putting the
retail price 81 to $3.50 above the whole
sale figure.
Some Wholesale Figures.
The wholesale price of splint coal at the
mines yesterday was about s. or $3.50.
While the public is not taken into tie
confidence of the coal dealers, it is re-
ported that splint coal order at So ton
was accepted by mine in the Kanawha
district, which, with the freight rate Of
S1.S5, would he $i.s5 here; so that the mar
ket price yesterday for coal on the tracks
was between s4.S5 and s.. These are not
exceptional prices, as the figures We're
confirmed by more than one dealer. One
concern, representing the Kanawha dis
trict, largely. reported the delivery here
on the tracks of thirty-five cars Of splint
and steam yesterday with the expecta-
LIoiI VI i've iiiO1c CdlS last ltls5 ulf-kA IsJ-
resentative OF this same company ex-
pressed that an order al $3.50 at the mines
would be accepted for immediate de-
livery.
These figures are much lower than they
were a week or ten days ago. While the
settlement of the anthracite strike is the
direct cause of the decided slump, the
warm weather has stopped buying to a
large extent. and this has thrown some
coal on the market at reasonable figures
without a purchaser. a cold wave will
probably stiffen the wholesale figures. as
there is practically no stock on hand, and
vigorous buying on the part of consumers
will take all the coal or more than is in
sight These fluctuations are expected
and for this reason another meeting of the
Coal Dealers Association has been called
for next. Monday.
The Anthracite Situation.
A representative of a large Philadel-
phia concern handling anthracite, was in
the city Yesterday, with whom many or
ders for hard coal were placed These or
ders were given for prompt delivery, and
according to this representative, some
coal-not much-should begin to arrive
here within two or three weeks. The cir
cular prices issued by the Reading and
other railroads will not keep down the
price of hard coal, it is said, as already
there is an increase Of between S1.25 to
S225 over the circular price. This does
not mean that the price quoted by Presi-
dent Baer does not hold good, but that
these altruistic coal dealers are in the mi
nority and other independent coal opera
tors are showing up the price on consum-
ers. Coal dealers here, it is said, are will
ing to pay this, bonus to insure prompt
delivery.
While this travelling representative. at
the request of some of the retail Dealers
would make no mention of the present
prices charged for anthracite, it was
learned that the figure was in the neigh
borhood of s4S5 at the mines. with
s215 freight rate, which would make the
wholesale price for hard coal delivered
in this city 81 a ton Just what the con-
sumer will be forced to pay is not known
More Mines Resume.
According to Associated Press dis
patches from the kanawha fields, receiv-
ed yesterday afternoon, every coal opera
tor in that section has resumed work
The telegram indicates that the
work is resumed in ..full force
that the work is resumed in full force.
which is doubted here. The wire states
further that an early resumption in the
New River district. where the men are
still out on account of local differences,
is expected.
The resumption of work in the hanaW-
ha fields means that the operators at last
have decided to grant some concessions to
the miners. On good authority it is said
here that these concessions were about
the same which were some time ago
granted to miners on the kanawha and
Michigan side of the kanawha river, at
which time seventeen operations started
up. Yesterday the resumption affected
nrobablv ten mines on the Chesa peake
and Ohio railroad. The concessions to the
miners were, among other things, nine
hour working day and a payday every
two weeks The main point at issue. it
is thought here was not granted, which
was the recognition of the United Mine
Workers.
Wanted 500 Men.
An excellent reason for not thinking
that the Kanawha operators are running
their mines on full force is the following
circular which is in circulation in this
city:
Carver Brothers Company, operating
mines at Eagle. West Virginia, in the
kanawka district, want 500 men. These.
laborers are promised work every day.
good pay, and good comfortable houses