New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-14
HEAVY SNOW BLOCKS TRAFFIC
S7REETC4R LINES CRIPPLED And PEOPLE SCFFEf
FROM WIND AND COLD
Commissioner Uoobu,v Begins Reno1al Of Snor With the Forces Of H
Depmtment- The Coal Situation Easy
TTDEW4TER COAL PRICE.
E,knt fBe Reads sDclipcr IT for and
UHat the Retailer ASKS.

The Tribune is enabled to announce authof-
itatively the price at W. ch the coal carrying
roads have been delivering coal at tde "stei'
A single road is given. because the price OF any
one OF the five roads is. with slight temporary
variations. that of them all The Delaware
I.ackawanna and Western Railroad Company
taking It as typical, has for the last month
maintained the following average prices ton:
Egg 81 99%: stove. So chestnut. 80; and pea
81 3612. At these rates the road has been
sending in from 5000 to 900 tons dairy
These figures are unimpeachabIe, and. that
being So 1t is fair to ask why coal when it
reaches the average citizen costs $40. II is now
conceded on ali sides that charity coal is abun-
dant and the pail distribution system is increas-
ing each day. This condition is due to the fact
that there are no niddIemen between the oper
ators and the poor. The four allied charities
are supplied at bottom prices, and such coal
yards IS distribute pailfuls to the poor TO- l.
and Is cents have definite understanding with
the companies with probable rebate at the end
of the season, the coal being purchased direct
But the householder who goes forth to pur
chase must make up his mind to pay SO ton
for coal. This is an increase of 50 from the
time 1t reaches tldewater. The poor paying
SO 90 the 81 30 Increase being legitimate for
the transportation, unloading and handling.
But 50 additional Is exorbitant. The coal has
come TO the consumer from his retail dealer. who
has had 1t direct from the sales agent of the
coal carrying road. 1t begins to look if
some of the local dealers should be brought to
account for illegitimate rake off" The
point is not that there is a coal famine for
there is coal for daily needs. but that the
honest citizen Is paying too much for it. and
unless he pays the high price is forced to wait
No other theory will account for the instance
OF man purchasing coal of one of the dealers
at wit
another man with more influence obtaining his
hearts desire 81 80 If something like that
had not been the legitimate price. Burns Bros.
would have been delivering coal to their
customers for the last month at 81 Barge
rates from Hoboken to Manhattan will not
count for the rise from So to $40. These rates
have increased from 10 cents a ton in some in
stances to % cents, but that addition and the
advanced rates for stevedoring do not account
for the So.
Rates 70 the West made by the six allied
companies, the Central Lackawanna, Erie, Del
aware and Hudson Lehigh Valley and Ontario
and Western. follows: Egg. 81 9S; stove,
$4 9s1k chestnut. 81 9S and pea, So 1714
President R. NJ Olyphant of the Delaware and
Hudson Railroad Company said to a Tribune
porter yesterday:
This talk of conspiracy and holding back on
the coal supply is rot. We doing our, best to
meet the situation. I cannot understand why
people are taken in for a moment by these
stories of combine. l admit that there is
certain amount of apprehension, but | am at
loss TO see why it should exist. Our road is
bringing to tidewater 100 tons day. That is
just trife below the amount handled for the
corresponding month of last year"
President Truesdale of the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western said:
This talk of conspiracy is utter nonsense
It would be poor business policy if coal is
mined to hold 1t back when there is market so
ready and eager for ii as NewYork. The