The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-10
BUYERS
MUST Bear
INCREASE
Coal Dealers, Having to Pay
Higher Prices, Have Advanced
Prices Of Fuel Materially.

While no meeting OF the dealers was
held yesterday. some OF them consulted
by telephone and came to the conclusion
that there would necessarily follow gen
eral advance on some kinds OF coal. But
this has enormously been applied to coal
that has been purchased
The dealers say that all coal that has
been bought and paid for will be deliv-
cred at the price paid for II. but 1t fol-
lows. they having 10 pay an increased
price for coal that has been bought, must
increase the price TO cover the Increased
cost
The prices which the dealers have 10
pay have materially increased since the
action of the Independent operators In
breaking away from the agreement with
the coal operating railroads. The inde-
pendents mine nearly all. IL not all OF the
Iehigh coal. and as this coal Is I'm great
demand. the price has been generally ad-
The Eastern Coal company has not ad-
vanced prices because X has no GOAL 70
TSs sree fer that mas be- pad
for coal when II is bought.
John II. White a. Son has nothing but
pea coal for sale and the price fixed for
this is $40 n ton. Some OF the other deal
ers, who have other kinds OF coal have
advaiced the price 10 cover the cost OF
coal, but II is all folly to assume the deal
ers could sell coal at once price and
charge another for IL II the price In
creasedbefore thecoal was delivered
Such action would be direct violation
OF a contract And sale OF coal Is just
as much OF a legal contract as could be
entered into by any person. As an Illus
tration OF tho advance In prices because
OF the action OF the Independent opera
tors. It can be said that all kinds OF coN
had advanced on an average OF about
$3.50 a ton. Some kinds OF coal has ad-
vanced as much as A40 a ton, and this
applies principally TO Lehigh coal
The freight rates are easier because
some OF the companies haver efused 10 ac-
cpt more tonnage Some OF the local deal
ers have been fortunate in having ton
mage accepted but II will be impossible
to get more tonnage accepted until
change rs made by some or the dealers.
However. the dealers say there Is no
means OF knowing what they have paid
for coal until the bill for the cargoes
reach them. One firm this morning re-
ceived bin OF n cargo which called for
two prices. and II was bought OF one OF
the coal operating railroads But this was
because the railroad had been compelled
to purchase some of the coal OF independ-
ent operators.
The prospect is that coal will increase
materially in price. But what he limit
will be Is decidedly uncertain, but ii is
possible that he consumers will b. com
PEELED TO pay large advance cover the
prices that obtained until yesterday TO-
cause OF the effort Of the Independent
operators 10 secure all they could cut Of
the people.
The Eastern Coal Co, by this mornings
fire. losa about half OF it's facilities for
handling coal Steps were taken ut once
to rebuild the opckets but II will be fully
three months before the pockets can be
restored and for that period practically
all OF the winter remaining. the company
will be badly crippled. The company has
done all that could be done TO replace the
pockets. but this. particularly when II Ia
considered that IL calls for outdoor work
will necessarily be slow because OF the
weather conditions.