The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-26
COAL GOES UP.
Fear of Strike Causes Boost in
Prices.


The fear that a strike may be called
among the miners of the state on the
part of the Western Federation of
Miners has caused another jump in
the prices of Kansas coal. Advices re-
ceived here Saturday and this moTn-
ing by local dealers indicate that the
advance will be Il material one.
Steam coal from southern Kansas is
quoted at 1925, Il raise of from 65 to
So cents per ton. Steam coal has been
selling at so and 70 cents. Il Just re-
ceived the first news this morning,
said one of the coal dealers. The let
ter containing the information states
the advance and asks if I wish to file
an order. I have been paying % cents
all the time and this is the first notice
have had that there has been a raise
made It has been contemplated on
account of the fear that a strike may
be called among the miners in the
state. Kansas IS experiencing all sorts
of trouble now in getting enough coal
and the prices there are way up This
applies both to steam as well as nut
and lump coal"
Considerable steam coal is used in
Topeka but most of the dealers have
contracts so that the advance viii not
necessarily catch them seriously
There has been no general advance
in the Usage and Burlingame Goals
though the operators are asking just
ing as high as three dollars at the
mines, which is a 40 cent raise. said
another dealer who did not wish his
name used. "The present price asked
is $3.50 at the mines
A. E. Wessen said; "An advance has
been made in the coal from Bur
lingame and it is worth now about
$3.50 and may go higher Coal is a
scarce article in Topeka and we have
practically got all our coal ordered al
ready sold. I wouldn't be surprised to
see coal go up to S."
a letter from the Burlingame dis
trict was received by one of the
largest dealers in the city Saturday in
which $3.50 was asked at the mines
why. if we have to pay that at the
mines, coal will So in Topeka said he.
There is not much coal mined there
and hardly any supply On hand. It's
all on account of the belief that the
miners of Kansas may be called out.
The miners in the state haven't any
grievance but they have to obey the
orders of their union. I haven't got
hardly any Usage or BurHngame in
my bins I tried to round up 18 cars
down there this week but found it i'm
possible. I'll be lucky If get one
fourth of that" The same letter
quoted that a raise in the Weir City
and Frontenac nut and lump would be
made, increasing 1t from $2.25 at the
mines to $3.50 with Iowa coal quoted
at s4 an increase from $2.25-
I'VE haven't raised our Price on
Osage," said Cyrus Leland one of the
trustees Of the Devlin estate. ''T don't
believe that there has been any raise
to $3.50 at the mines, at least
haven't heard of it. I don't believe
that the miners viii strike. I look for
a settlement within the nexr two days
The miners Of the state haven't any
complaint but they are members Of the
union and as such they stick together.
They are compelled to obey the orders
sent out"
All Of the coal dealers are complain
ing of the scarcity of coal in the mar
ket. There IS hardly q saler in To-
peka who has a surplus stock on hand.
As soon as he gets a little shipped in
it is gobbled uD so quickly that he
hasn't time in most instances to pile
any in his bins. The schools of the
city, however, have been guaranteed a
sumcient supply and no Inconvenience
will be felt in this direction.