The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-19
PRICE is DOWN.
Coal for Supplying County will
Cost Less.
Reduction OF from III to 76
Cents Per Ton.
is A GOOD CRITERION.
Indicates That Retail Scale Will
Take a Fall.
Mine Operators Find They Must
60 After Business.

Shawnee county will save almost
$1,000 in its coal bills this winter on
account of the reduced price of fuel.
In 10000 the total bill was $3,640,
while for 19O45 it is not expected to
touch $2,7OO by a good margin. The
contract was let to the Topeka Ice &
Fuel company. Its bid follows: Weir
City slack, sass; Leavenworth lump,
1924, for general use for the poor;
Leavenworth lump, So for the poor
farm.
Last year the c. C. Nicholson Coal
company had the contract and the
bids were: Weir City slack, $2.7O;
Burlingame 81, for general use of
poor; Burlingame 1918, for the poor
farm. This shows a saving of IL cents
per ton this year on Weir City slack;
rs cents per ton for general use among
the poor, and rs cents per ton for the
poor farm.
The marked reduction in the price
of coal as shown in the bids is due in
all probability to the desire of the
southern Kansas mine operators to get
business. They are after contracts.
The tremendous production of oil and
its use for fuel purposes, is also an
important factor. The mining COM
panies naturally will look around for
introduce such concessions as Shaw
nee county will benefit from this win
ter. The railroads have for some time
past indicated an intention to use oil,
and while that may not be of sufficient
strength to cause worry, yet the coal
dealers are little afraid of it and are
protecting themselves. All of these
influences have their force Coal for
ordinary consumption will also in all
probability be lower this winter, and
for the causes mentioned.
From these figures County Commits
sioner Sterne drew his conclusion that
the county would save a good deal of
money. 81 think" he said, that we
will spend at least ST. 900 less this
year than last for coal. OF course, the
relief fund which supplied poor people
last year in North Topeka, is now
gone and those who need fuel will go
to Mr.. Hale. But then the conditions
in North Topeka will not be as BAD
this winter as they were after. last
years big flood. The new Union IA
cific extension will be built up to
Marysville and that will provide work
for great many people. L feel that
the county will be a big gamer this
winter"
Few people understand why there
are two different prices for coal for
the poor. For the needy who come to
Poor Commissioner Hale for ald, Dig
ger price is charged because the coal
company must haul it to their homes
in ton and half ton quantities inc
poor farm supply is hauled to the farm
at the expense of the county. Tne coal
company saves in TINS way anu CAN
make a better rate.
Five bids We're submitted There is
little difference in the prices, except
where some of the companies gave an
estimate on Burlingame coal and 9TH
ers on Leavenworth lump. The bids
show uniform drop in the prices as
follows:
J. w F. Hughes Coal company
Weir City slack, $3.50; Southern Kan
sas lump, 1895 for general poor; South
ern Kansas lump, 1878 for poor farm.
c. c. Nicholson Coal company-Wei
City slack, $2.70; Burlingame. $4.00 for
general poor; Burlingame, 1918 for
poor farm.
Topeka Coal company-Weir City
slack $274; Leavenworth lump, 1924
for general poor; Leavenwortn lump,
SO. 10 for poor farm.
Webster -TuIloch Coal company
Weir City slack, $2.75; Burlingame
lump 1924 for general poor; Burlin-
game lump. $3.50 for poor farm.