The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-07
PRICE OF COAL
IS DOUBLED
Operators Ralss the Price ION
BOard' to Sl0.
RAILROAD CONTRACTS VOID.
Sales TO Lines by Individual Miners Ended
for Sake Of the Larger
Profit.
RAILROAD CONTRACTS VOID.


brought to the city In the hands of the
independent operators and jobbers, there
is facing the consumer not only dearth
OF fuel. but such as can be purchased
promises to be obtainable only at fabulous
prices Coal jumped TO $40 ton "on
board" or at tidewater. late yesterday
afternoon. This was an increase OF So a
ton to dealers.
Through an abrogation OF the sixty
FIVE per cent" agreement between the
independent operators and the anthracite
railroads-the Temple Coal Company al
least a million and a half tons of coal a
month that would have been sold AT
tldewater for s5 a ton are delivered into
the ha nds of the independents TO furnish
to retailers and then consumers at any
price that can be wrung from those who
are now absolutely at the mercy OF spec
lators.
Several OF the largest retailers ex-
pressed the opinion yesterday that WITHIN
the next few days coal would have ad-
vanced to sl2 OF SIS a ton. Officials of
the coal carrying railroads were equally
convinced that high prices would prevail
fol. many weeks. with the quantity linn
tied unit. Nav 1.
In acknowledging the truth OF the sit
uation. the railroad officials emphatcally
disavowed any responsibility for the pres :
ent and predicted condition OF the coal
market and said their agreement with
the independent operators had been abro-
gated through the greed OF spectators
and middlcmen and Independents to take
advantage of the high prices that have
prevailed
While the railroad officials say that for
their own coal they will continue TO
charge 81 a ton at tidewater. retailers are
equally positive In their declaration that
II Is and has been impossible for them to
obtai I'm any at that price II the coal roads
have e. in other words. the retailers de-
clare they have not seen any of 1t nor
found any trace OF 1t.
SOFT GOES UP, TOO.
There Is even an extraordinary in
crease in soft coal prices, and yesterday
II was quoted at $3.50, or S. ton more
than a short time ago. Two or three
dealers expressed the opinion that at even
this high price il was doubtful whether
some OF the ocean steamships that are
scheduled to sail tomorrow would be able
to procure sufficient.
1T is out Of the consumers pockets
the fiddler for those who danced during
the coal strike and during these weeks
that have followed. when dealers have
been lining their pockets from the exor-
bitant prices that have been asked for
coal" That was the way i'm which the
situation was summarized by those who
said II was fortunate that thus far the
winter has not been one OF prolonged zero
weather Coke Brothers e. Co. and John
Marklc have announced to the trade. as
independents. that henceforth the price
Of coal will be so a ton. Under the
~sixty-ive per cent. agreement the coal
was sold to the coal carrying railroads
at 1926 a ton.
II was through the Lehish Valley rail
| roads abrogation of the 90 per cent
agreement that the supply OF coal was
| virtually placed in the hands OF the in
| dependents. who can now manipulate the
| prices. The railroad was first attacked
| on account of the large number of indie
| pendent opera tors along the lines. The
Lehigh carried at least 20 per cent. OF the
coal mined by Independents The sus-
| pension Of tho contract between the par
| tic. will be I'm effect until March ~. The
| Delaware. Iackawanna and Western sus
| pended the agreement without fixing q
| date for it's resumption. but can cance
the agreement with the independents al
| will.
| In Justification 81 their breaking the
| contracts the railroad officials yesterday
| said they acuuiesccd in the demands oi
| the independents rather than resort to the
| courts. where some of the clauses might
| possibly be ultimately construed as be-
| ing illegal and the agreement with nc
| binding force. Explanatory OF the pres
ent trouble and promised coal famine II
was said that recently some free ton.
| mage coal came into this market.
One official OF railroad showed
! reporter a letter that had been sem
TO those operators whose coal they wer,
carrying In which IL was said that IN
Wow OF the urgent demand the railroad
could not consistently ask price in ex
cess of 81 a ton at tidewater.
JUST COMMON CARRIERS.
During tho suspension Of the agreement
the railroads will simply act as common
carriers for the Independents. charging $,
much q ton for bringing their coal I,
market with the scarcity of coal here
| there are hundreds Of consumers who ar,
buying their coal ~ the Pennsylvania col
ierics.
One such transaction was shown 20
reporter yesterday. A man lvinl
at Mamaroneck y. Y, was the pur
chaser. lie wanted anything from tor
tons 70 carload. He could not obtail
II through prominent dealer in thl
city. hut was given permission To use tn
name of dealers in the transaction whe-
the coal reaches Mamaroneck it will hpv
cost the consumer about 81. - ton. Thi
same retailer was charging $50 a toi
| for coal YESTERDAY but uncer no con
| sideration was he tying Go supply coal q
any other than his old customers.
Thomas T. Fowler. president Of the Nev
York. ontario and Western railroad. face
tlously remarked OF the situation: "Weil
you see. the coal barons robbers an,
coal trusts are perhaps at Il again Thl
time they are making the poor indepen
dents run up the price OF coal but "a
matter Of fact we are selling coal ~ :
a ton at tidewater when We have n q
sell. There II no question that there 4
a scarity % coal in New England: I'm fact
the conditions up there have been an,
| are very bad. The coal was brought her
we have tried 10 distribute 80 that al