Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-06

coal. The people thought the advance.
to be unreasonable. Since that time coal
$3.50, S, S. and s7.2o The price has ad,
vanced 81 per ton within thirty days. and
local dealers have the temerity to suggest
1t is likely to be he cha gnss bs
fore the winter is over. The coal people
attribute existing conditions to the
scarcity, of the. article. but the coal Yards
to- obtain the fuel is the price. The
operators, the Norfolk and western, and
the local dealers have all been accused
Commodity. The local dealers claim that
they making a smaller percentage on
invested capital than when they could
sell coal at 81 They claim that they are
paying the same freight rates they have
always paid, so it seems plain that the
Norfolk and Western is not the gamer
thereby.
| WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES
1t is suggested that Cashier, Curran 4
the raise, but it has developed that they
are only the agents Of the opera tors, act
ing on a commission basis SO that they
are only benefited to the extent Of their
| deductions the people have concluded
that the fault lies primarily with the
operators, who have determined, as they
have the power in their hands: to squeeze
the people to their utmost limits They
are ably seconded in their nefarlous
scheme by the selling agents, who. are
also profting by the plan. Ill,
The following figures. furnished BY a
reliable retail dealer, will give the reader
! an insight into the matter that may tend
to show wherein the responsibility lies:
| ton at the mines. The freight to Roa,
/! noke costs $3.50 per ton, making d total
of 81. SIS per ton. This year Cashier, Cur
ran s: Bullitt fix the price at $3.50 at the
| mines. Freight is the same as last year.
This makes it $3.50 to Roanoke. Put IN
coal dealers yards it costs IS per ton:
20 per cent. of it has to be sold at $3.50
per ton-a loss of so cents per ton on
costs dealers $50 to deliver ton of coal
to a customer. So the profit can be read
lily figured OUT
| It is a notable fact shat coal is sold
in Salem, seven miles west of Roanoke,
at S. per ton. and the price paid in Vim
ton. three miles east, is $3.50. The same
coal is switched off the main line here
and sent over the Roanoke and Southern
| into North Carolina, where it is sold for
| Sc. The people are anxious for relief,
but have little hopes of it.
| Cause OF High Prices.
NEW YORK, January 5.-tspecial.)-
| Anthracite coal producers resent the ac-
cusation that they are responsible for
| the high prices Of coal. The operat tors
LAY LIE bidille Oll LILY; 1Cls1il ueellel !iS
| latter say that, as they have to sell the
| coal in very small quantities, the ex-
| penses in connection with making de-
liyeries have been enormously increased.
| The anthracite companies say they are
| selling coal free on board cars i'll New
| York harbor at the following prices per
| ton: Broken, S4.75:z egg, IS; stove, IS, and
chestnut. IS. Some of the so-caled "in-
| dividuaT' coal has been selling for any
| price up to $40 per ton free on board.
The bulk of coal produced by the indie
| pendent coal operators, however, is sold
to various coal roads to which they are
naturally tributary. the roads agreeing
4 to take such coal, paying therefor 65 per
cent. of the selling price at tideWater.
! An official Of one of the leading COM
| panies says that nearly all of the in
! dependent output is sold to various roads.
! a few independent producers who are not
under contract with the coal roads are
| at liberty to sell their coal at any; price
! they can get. 80
In order to satisfy the demand, the
coal is passing through several hands.
i After leaving the operating companies it
who in turn distribute it among smaller
/ dealers Then@it is sold to vendors and
grocers, and distributed by bag or bushel
or pail, and by the time each one who
! handles the coal gets his profit out Of
/ it, it is up to the public to pay the
charges. fs
Operators say that the present whole
! sale rates will probably continue through
/ soutEthe season. 1t is expected that the
] dealers will gradually catch UP with their
] orders, and the situation grow less in
tense. especially if mild weather con
/ tinues.