Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24
STILL WIrHbUT GOAL
LOCAL DEALERS UNABLE re- OBJ
EAIN A gUPMY.
Comment 1Gade Upo4 President 3ae1a
Statement-Gessfp Regarding
Price Of Anthracite.

None Of the dealers or coal In Washing
ton. so far as could be learned today, mas
been able to get aliy 5xssshracite from the
Pennsylvania mines, and many OF them
are perturbed over The situation. The sales
agent OF the Philadelphia and Reading Iron
and Coal Company has declined, 1t IL said.
to book any orders up to the present. One
of the leading dealers OF the city, who
usually gets his supply from the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, declared this afternoon that
he had been unable to get any coal from
that source, and that he was unable to say
how long 1t would be before the company
would begin delivering hard coal here.
Much interest was evinced today by the
public and dealers as well, In e6tatement
issued yesterday afternoon by President
Baer OF the Philadelphia and Reading rail-
road. The statement was as follows:
The reports OF the superintendents .,1 IN
charge OF the mines show that as a resuit
Of the strike the mines and mining plants
have sustained considerable injury ana
their respective working organizations nave
been impaired. For some time to come the
collieries cannot be worked to produce
their average quantity of coal. This VIII
increase the cost Of production. Estimates
have been submitted showing the propab4e
increase in cost per ton at the several
groups of collieries. The general average
exceeds so cents per ton.
You will. therefore, add to the circular
price 50 cents per ton, this add1tlonal prlc .
to continue until the LIST of January, 19Ot,
by which time we hope to reach normal
condition of mining and production.
Notwithstanding the fact that during the
strike coal was sold by our company at
an advance over the circular price, the
price has been unreasenably advanced to
the public by some retail dealers. In the
distribution of the coal, therefore you VIII
so far as practicable supply the dealers
who are willing to sell coal to the pubic
to obtain an unfair profit from the public,
you will promptly take steps to supply the
reasonable demands of the public directly.
Comment by Dealers.
Local dealers who were inclined to COM
ment on the statement of President Baer
seemed to think that It applied particularly
to Philadelphia, as it was addressed TO
General Manager Henderson of the Coal and
Iron Company, whose offices. as are those
of the Reading railroad are in that city.
The price of hard coal In Philadelphia at
the time the strike was begun was S6.2o a
ton. The advance mentioned in Mr.. Baer
statement would bring the price up to $6.75,
the price that obtained In Washington be
fore the strike went into effect II only oO
cents were added to the old price mere
Washingtenians might hope to get their
winter supply of anthracite at $7.2o ton.
No Increase in Profit.
There are some coal Dealers local
dealer said this afternoon, who may deem
it advisable to get any price they can for
COAL but the majority OF those engaged in
the business are willing to sell what they
have or can obtain from ttle coal companies
at a profit such as they made when coal
was at a normal price. They are not all
swinish in their proclvities. l look to see
hard coal sold In Washington at $7.25 ton
and perhaps at less. But there can be no
price fixed when coal is not obtainable.
What We want is coal to sell to our GUS
toners, and as soon as We can get 1t the
price will adjust ITSELF :.