Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-19
COAL BEING HELD UP.
Eleven Cars Billed to Minneapolis Side

Eleven Cars Billed to Minneapolis Side.
tracked in iowa-Advance in Prices.
Minneapolis Jan. 17.-Eleven car
loads Of hard coal billed to Minneapolis
and St. Paul are standing on an Iowa
sidetrack under orders which direct
that they shall be held there "indefi-
nitely.'
A Well known Minneapolis business
man is authority for the statement.
He was coming up from Chicago and
at a small way station his train was de-
enough for him to ;iote eleven cars of
fine anthracite and to ascertain that II
was billed to the twin cities. The con-
ductor of the freight train had just re-
ceived orders from the shippers to
sidetrack all the coal.
While this indicates disposition on
the part of eastern shippers to hold
back coal that doss not appear to be the
policy of the local retailers. A tour OF
the main yards in the city develops the
fact that the city is not actually burned
out of fuel The supply of wood is
good. Considerable soft coal is in the
bins of some yards, and those who have
the proper CRATES for camel coal anu
the price to pay for 1t need not go with
cut domestic fuel.
The suspicious Individual who inves-
tigated the situation was surprised to
find in the first yard three bins capa-
BILE OF holding $50 tons each full of
bright, shining hard coal OF the stove
sizs. On another yard. was about 100
tons and in third al least 100 tons of
the same variety. No attempt was
made by any of the companies to con-
ceal the fact In one case any one pass
ing can see the black diamonds stacked
up within ten feet OF the sidewalk.
The explanation is simple. The coal
has lust arrived. 1t was sold, long be-
fore it came to hundreds of individual
purchasers, and is being delivered as
fast as the limited horse and sleigh
equipment of the yards will allow.
The policy Of every company In the
city seems to be to sell the coal The
methods are different. One OF them
sells in 100 pound lots. This is sacked
for the purchaser on the spot. car
u day is doled out for the relief of the
suffering. Others adopt different meth
eds, but all are selling what fuel
comes in.
The agents laugh at the idea that coal
is being held here for higher prices, be-
cause they could sell any amount OF
coal at any time, and at almost any
price demanded.
The advance in prices, principally in
soft COAL results from competition.
When it becomes known that any mine
has coal to sell, representatives of diff
ferent companies are sent after II.
These agents bid against each other,
and naturally the mine owner sells to
the highest bidder.
The western representatives of a big
coal company tried to get 100 cars of
smokeless coal for Minneapolis and de-
livered on track it cost the company
s7.75 a ton. Smokeless coal such as
was furnished the city hospital at $3.50
last fall now brings $500. Hooking coal
on which the delivered price on Sept. !,
was $3.50 ton and on Oct. l. 1870, is
now $3.50 and "run of the mine at that.
Such coal screened cannot be secured
now. Hooking screenings which brought
$3.50 delivered Sept. 4 was $500 on
Jan. /.
Illinois on the track was quoted Sat-
urday at $3.50: Tuesday. at 50 and
wednesday at $3.50.
Youghiogheny and Fairmont steam
coal was succeeded Nov. by Hooking
and Illinois,,
Yesterday anthracite was advanced
to $40 by companies that have been
selling at $3.50. A supply of eastern
steam coal was bought in Chicago last
Saturday for Minneapolis which will
cost the wholesale dealers here $7.25 on
the track.
st. Paul is about to follow the ev-
ample of other cities in Investigating
charges of excessive prices for woodland
coal The board of assembly last night
authorized President Haas to appoint
a commission of three to conduct the
INQUIRY. DR.. Whitcomb, who introduced
the resolution for the appointment of
the commission, says it can at least
pave the way for grand jury invests
CATION. What opened his eyes to the
situation in that city was the disposal
of 300 tons of hard coal at S12 a ton
by a dealer who ordinarily has trouble
securing twenty tons.
There is no disposition among Min
neapolis aldermen to take up the fuel
problem, as they regard this city COM
paratively situated.
.