Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-29
THE COAL HOLD UP
Il Goes Not Repose in the Local
Dealers but in Another
Combination.
Mi E DIVINE R AND RAILROAD
Banded Together to Control the Com
modify, Limit the Supply and
Boost the Prices.

The communication alleging the ex
istence of a coal trust il the three
cities printed in The Argus yesterday,
has aroused considerable discussion.
Though preferring to ignore the COM
munication local coal dealers, when
seen regarding it, stated that the ac-
cusations are groundless. The fault,
they assert. is with the jobber, not the
retailer A jobber, it was stated, viii
accommodate regular retail dealers
who are his customers, over the If
regular dealer and the present scarcity
of coal has resulted often times in in
ability to supply the demands of the
regular patrons, not to consider ouI-
side orders. The wholesale associa-
tons also give preference, they assert,
to retail dealers who conduct estaO-
lished coal offices and their OWE
scales. The supply at present is
claimed to be very scarce, the amount
mined hardly being adequate and the
cars for its transportation, local rail
road men stating, being insufficient to
haul the output.
One dealer stated that, under recent
accusations and suspicious apparent
from various sources, he would favor
a careful governmental investigation,
and the fault of the scarcity and high
price. wherever it may exist be re
vealed. He added that his firm has
hard enough work trying to obtain d
supply of good quality of coal to meet
the demands of its patrons.
The coal prices prevailing this fall
with the prospects of another jump in
sight are also causing considerable
comment on the part of the coal con
sumner of ordinary means. A local
coal merchant stated that he expected
first of next month on top of the re-
cent advance of 25 cents. This Will
place coal at an abnOrmally high
figure.
Who IL Getting the RakeOT:
Who is doing the boosting and ~
ceiving the high profits that follow
such a situation is a matter which
many deem fit for investigation. The
mine operators have attempted to lay
the blame on the Illinois United Mine
Workers but John H. Walker of Dan
vile. president of the miners organi-
cation. resents this statement. stating
that low compensation is being re-
ceived by the miners.
Figures given out by a Rock Island
retail dealer today indicate that other
than the miners are reaping the re-
wards of the high prices. The average
per ton received by the miner in the
coal fields approximate to Rock Island
was given as 60 to 60 cents. The adj
ditional expense involved in the hoist.
ing of the coal TO the surface and plac
ing it in the coal cars ready for trans
portation varies from 10 to Is cents
per ton to the size of the mine. The
selling price from the mines varies
slightly with the different mines, rang.
ing from 80 cents up.
The freight rates demanded shoN
where a large part of the price paid
by the consumer goes. The rate from
the Springfield mines is given as 81;
from Peoria and the Fulton county
mines, SO cents, and from the Coal
Valley, Sherrard and other mines oil
the vicinity 5S cents. In other words
to transport from Springfield to Rock
Island train of 40 loaded coal cars