The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-02
COAL JUMPS To
WINTER PRICES
Prospect Is for Another Ad-
vance if Cold Season Should
Be Long.
PEOPLE DID NOT TAKE
TO IDEA OF STORAGE
Could Have Saved Money if
They Had Cash and Place
to Put Coal.

The price of nut and lump coal per
ton yesterday jumped from S52b and
Sc. so. respectively, to $50 and S5.76. go
ing back 10 the rates which prevailed at
the close OF the winter season, y tcrmi-
nation OF the special rates made under
agreement until August 1 by the freight
companies and coal mining concerns. In
Guiding storage prices, Is given as the
reason for tho change. Dealers, both
wholesale and retail unanimously express
the opinion that II the winter proves Sc
we're there will be a scarcity of coal for
both commercial and domestic purposes
with a possibility of prices soaring fur
higher than the highest paid last year.
During the winter of 1910 both railroad
companies and coal firms had an abund-
ant supply. on hand to meet a mild de-
end OF the season. AT the beginning of
winter II was thought the season would
be severe and that the amount In stor-
age would not be sufficient TO meet the
largely responsible in forcing the price
OF nut coal per ton up TO S5.75 and that
of lump coal to S. This lasted only for
a brief period, however, as the winter
turned off mild. weakening the demand.
Accordingly. the prices were let down TO
$3.50 Der ton for nut coal and S5,16 for
lump coal.
Favorable Storage Rate.
The work of storing fuel for the rail
roads and for wholesale and retail COM
panies began IN earnest May /. At that
time It was agreed BY the storage com
panies freight companies and mining
concerns 10 make reduction. amount
ing in all to 25 cents per ton on nut
and lump coal, during The months OF May.
June and July. Consequently retailers
lowered their rates TO the same amount
per ton and lump coal al $3.50 per ton
These rates prevailed up until yester-
day, when the change came, the reduc-
tion agreed upon May l last being can
celed
eral freight agent of the Ore
gon Short Line. the amount OF
TO Justify a continuation OF the lower
rates for next year. Mr., Reeves is said
TO be authority for the assertion that
very little coal has been stored this
season, despite the lowered rates that
obtained ND until yesterday. and that in
case Of severe winter the railroads
could not handle the coal fast enough nor
ticient TO supply the demand. H F.
Fcrnstrom, general manager OF the Bam-
berger Coal company, said last even
Ing:
Mutual Concessions.
The amount of coal stored this season
VIII amount TO less than half of that
stored the year before. At the close OF
last winter reduction OF 25 cents on
nut coal and the same on lump coal
went into effect This was brought about
their rate l5 cents, while the freight
companies lowered their hauling and stor-
age rates In all 10 cents, making a total
reduction per ton of 25 cents.
This was TO prevail during the months
OF May June and July In order to stimu-
late trade among all coal concerns thus
giving not only railroad companies and
business firms but also citizens an op-
portunity OF storing In an adequate sup
ply during the warm season, so that they
would have a substantial resource during
the. cold spell.
i, However. people do not seem to have
taken advantage OF the opportunity. Very
little coal has been stored, resulting in
the cancellation OF the agreed reduction
has not justified a continuation OF the
lower rates. While the exact figures are
not Immediately to hand the total amount
OF coal stored this season will amount to
less than half OF that conserved the pre-
ylous year. The mining companies were
forced to raise the rate 10 cents per ton
again. while the freight companies In
creased their rates 10 cents This takes
the rate OF coal per ton back TO where
1t stood at the close OF the winter
Prospect OF Storage.
's1n case of severe cold season there
Is every reason to believe that short
age Will exist. with so little stored.
severe winter would bring on a distress
Ing demand, which could not possibly be
met under the circum-
stances, II follows then. that those who
have recognized their opportunity and
laid In a good supply are the ones who
WIZ enjoy comfort should the coming
winter prove severe. which is forecasted''
J, S. Critchlow of the Western Fuel
and the Burton Coal company.
c. II. Fisher. president OF the Western
Fuel company. c. S, Martin. e. II
o BrieD of the Citizens Coal company
and many other dealers expressed them
selves in the foregoing manner yesterday.
and all agree that although the present
raise Is. a comparatively small one, a
very severe winter might probably re-
suit IN the upward flight OF coal rates
TO point equal TO II not in excess of
last years maximum figures.