The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-29

Chief among the characteristics of
the coal situation in Utah during the
year just closed was the great difficulty
encountered in supplying the demand.
Many causes were assigned for this.
The coal companies threw the blame
upon the transportation companies,
saying that they had an abundance of
coal at the mines ready for shipment,
but were unable to secure transporta-
ton facilities to transport il TO the
points Of consumption. On the other
hand, the transportation companies
put forth the plea that they We're as
a rule. able TO supply all demands, but
that the coal companies did not have a
sufficient number of men 10 get out
the coal at the proper time. 1t is the
consensus Of opinion that the fault
lay with the railroad Companies-that
they did not have the motive power
nor the cars TO meet the demands made
upon them. The unusual activity in the
mining camps made drafts upon the
railroads that they were unprepared to
meet and, as a result, all consumers
of coal were made to suffer TO a greater
or less extent With the coming of the
squeeze in the financial centers Of the
east and the shutting down of metal
mines, shelters and other industries,
the pressure was relieved. and for the
past two months there has been no
shortage of coal anywhere. This is a
great relief TO many. as suffering was
anticipated In many quarters i'm the
winter if the conditions had not
changed.
High Retail Price for Coal.
Another feature of the year that ap-
pealed 10 all consumers was the in
crease in the price of coal. In Salt
Lake City, Utah coal was put at SO
per ton retail, and coal from outside
the state was put at $3.50 retail. These
prices were established as a result of
agreements between the shippers and
the dealers. So far as the public was
able to discover, the prices We're arbi-
trary and were not based in any degree
on the cost. Of production or the cost
of transportation.
New Companies Get Busy.
Naturally the high prices of coal and
the difficulty encountered in securing
a supply gave rise TO numerous move
ments for the opening up of '''indepen-
dent mines, that is, mines outside the
control of the Utah Fuel company and
the big mines operating in Wyoming.
One of the most important moves Of
this kind was the organization of the
Independent Coal company and the
opening of extensive mines by this
company at Kenilworth, some distance
out from Helper, in Carbon county.
This company is composed of a number
Of prominent local business men; it
has expended a large sum of money in
the development of its property; it be-
gan active shipping in October last,
and is now turning out coal at the rate
of $50 tons daily. A good part of this
is shipped to California, Nevada and
Idaho This company has two twenty
two-foot veins and one nine-fOOt vein
of good coal on its property il has
purchased the property of the Aber-
deem Coal company, and is preparing
10 put out 1000 tons a day next year.
other independent" Companies.
The Sunshine Coal company, whose
nroperty is at Wales, in Carbon coun-
". is another of the Independents"
that made its influence felt during the
YEAR. 1t mas a producing capacity of
200 tons a day. and the Peoples Coal
company of the same place has like
canacity. Mines i'm Summit. Weber and
Emery counties were active during the
wear. The Weber mines built up d
considerable business among the min