The San Francisco call., 1908-04-05

who burn coal in California labor is
found in the absolute monopoly in for
eiEn coal importations. as far as San
Francisco is concerned. that is held by
The Western fuel company and the Pa
ciac Coast company. How effective
tiis is NAV readily be seen in the light
OF few ilIuminative figures which are
supplied herewith:
There was brought to san Francisco
IN the year 1907 a total of ssS,s5o tons
Of coal OF this only $4,000 tons was
American coal. Virtually rs per cent
OF all the coal fuel brought here was
foreign. Australia contributed SST,74o
tons: British Columbia, 2o5,sSe tons;
Japan, 73,ssS tons; Great Britain, 49,
5s2 tons Altogether the foreign coal
imported made the great bulk OF $50
SIS tons. glance viii show how
largely the situation and the rare OF
coal consumers is in the hands OF the
Western fuel company the PACING coast
company and Of the coal parohs VINO
dominate the market.
The exclusive expose supplied by The
Call has been the source OF lively dis
cussion in this city and throughout the
state. Following the conflagration OF
1906 in this city various combinations
OF capitalists, including fire under
writers. gas and electric magnates ana
the Spring Valley water company, pre-
pared to make good their individual
losses at the expense of the already
overburdened public. OF these at
ferapts to hold up the public none is
more glaring than that of the coal i'm
porting barons What coal has been
already brought to San Francisco from
abroad must be paid for at rates that
viii still yield profit after the high
charters have been takem into account
Thus the coal barons viii. While this
high priced coal crowds the coal bunk
ers and coalyards in this city a total
cessation Of the importing OF coal is
ordered. There will be no cheaper for
eign coal allowed here until the present
great overstock is disposed of at high
figures Every house holder who uses
the foreign coal will feel the pinch,
and from one end Of California to the
other. The blood money must be given
up and there is no remedy is sight
from the foreign field
RETAILERS MAY STAND IN
There is a suspicion that among the
trade secrets of San Francisco is some
sort of an arrangement by which some
retailers find it to their advantage to
stand in with the importers of foreign
coal. II such is the fact, il viii not be
found in any agreement that is given
general publicity, except by accident
Whether such is the fact or not is not
material in considering the fuel ques
tion in a large way, for the market
trend shows how strongly, proportion
stely. the foreign coal in entrenched in
san Francisco.
Taking January and February, it
viii be seen that the coal barons
brought in from other lands 14O,37S
tons. while the total arrivals of do
mestic coal amounted to but 37,469
tons. The foreign Goals still hold their
lead in latest arrivals over the do
mestic coal in the market to the eX-
tent Of rs per cent in total. What will
be the fate Of the dealers in domestic
Goals remains to be seen. On the water
front of San Francisco there is but
one coal wharf that is not under the
domination OF the coal importing
barons. That IS the Vallejo street
wharf, where the Union fuel company
has its bunkers. Competition may be
offered by the Union fuel company,
which is in a position to take advant-
age OF the existing situation. It
brings its coal from Tacoma in steam
ships under its control and can make
prices materially cheaper than those
that are offered by the coal barons,
who are carrying the cost OF high
the original cost Of their imported fuel.
ComPLAIsANT HARBoR BOARD
While the coal barons are holding
UP the state and especially the people
and the shipping port of San Fran
cisco. attention is directed to the as
sistance which the state. through the
board of harbor commissioners, has
given the monopolists to cinch the
general public.
The coal bunkers are in the very CEN
ter OF the commercial frontage of this
city. The Western fuel company has
control Of the three wharves-Mission
No. 2, Howard No. . and the Folsom
street wharf just south of the trans
port wharf. Under the leases the COM
paay holds ii can shut out other yes
sells than fits own.
NO independent shipper" II is said
by one of the foremost shipping men Of
San Francisco, .'can bring a cargo Of
foreign coal into San Francisco and sell
il at profit The cinch is absolute"
That this states only the fact may
be readily appreciated when the coal
barons have all their shore facilities
filed up-bunkers. bins and yards-and
q feet Of ships in the harbor. While
their coal is for sale, no one could be
permitted. from their business point of
view, to break the price, however low
charter rates the interloper might Sc
cure as a basis Of deduc--ng from the
market price OF his coal. While the
competitor would be paying demur-
rage and other charges to raise his
costs the market would be manipulated,
without doubt, SO that he must sell at
loss by the familiar trust methods
that destroy competition wherever pos
sible Therefore, as II has been said
before. the price OF foreign Goals is
entirely controlled at this port by the
local coal barons and Will be controlled
By them indefinitely If present condi-
lions hold.
The Pacific Coast company has large
ground rooms and bunkers at the Beale
street wharf, where there is stored
fully 25,000 tons Of foreign coal await
ing sale. while importations have been
stopped as far as the placing of imme-
diate charters is concerned.
BAR0Ns HOLD THE WHARvEs
An informant of The Call, who has
made a special study OF the San Fran
cisco water front and the coal sItua-
tion. made the following statement yes
terday which deserves general copsid-
erstion:
4f4 ~ $780,