Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-24
SOFT COAL PRICES
DUE FOR INCREASE
Boost in Price of From Is to
az Cents a Ton Is Ex-
pected Next Month.
FREIGHT RATES ADVANCE
FREIGHT RATES ADVANCE
IN ADDITION TO PRODUCT
Lowering of Tariff for Anthracite
With Gradual Resumption of
Present Cost Predicted.

Every interest N Washington which
uses power, light and heat, and which
purchases bituminous coal to make these
necessities, may look forward during
the month of April to an Increase in
the price Of most of the bituminous Goals
of from 10 to AZ cents ton, depending
on the coal used, according to reliable
statements made today.
Operators of the collieries on the line
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad have
increased their prices for bituminous coal
from Is to % cents ton. Operators
along the line of the Pennsylvania rail-
road also have increased their prices for
such coal from II to % cents a ton.
Operators along the lines of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad and the Nor
folk and Western railroad have ad-
vanced their prices for coal of this char
acter from 20 to % cents ton.
Freight Rates Also Boosted.
In addition. the freight rate to Wash
ington from Chesapeake and Ohio and
Norfolk and Western regions have
been advanced by the railroads II
cents ton over the rate of last
year, making total new freight
rate into w dSnlDSIO1 IFOlu pOIHlS OI
these two roads of s1.82 per gross ton.
Last years freight rate of $1.65 a gross
ton into Washington from points on
the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania, however, remains the same.
The new rates will go into effect, for
coal, April 1. and for freight, April Is.
The operators claim that they have
been mining coal at too low a price,
and it is commented that there is APP
parently concerted action among them.
MI fnot IN,
the prices of these bituminous Goals
all over the country, according to a
statement made today by a person ia
miliar with the situation. No reason
is given by the railroads in their pub
lished tariffs for making the freight
advances.
Goals Named for Sections.
The Goals which have been advanced
in price are known as New river, Poca-
hontas and kanawha products, being
named for the sections from which they
come, and being mined by number of
different large operators. These Goals are
used for making steam and electricity for
mower and light, for heating apartment
houses, etc.
The increased rates for product and
freight from the southern coal fields
which affect New river and PocahOntaS
Goals it was stated today, give maxi
mum of AZ cents ton increase over and
above the price in erect during the last
coal year-that is. from April /, 1872.
There is little Pocahontas coal sold in
Washington it Is declared, and the
freight rate on this coal has always been
higher than the freight rate on New river
coal, which originates on the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad.
New river coal, however, has been sold
in large quantities in Washington, and
the advance made by the mine operators
on their product and the increase of the
freight rate by the railroads will force
many manufacturing concerns and apart
ment house owners, who have been using
this coal either to pay the increase or
to seek substitute.
Discrimination Is Seen.
On Goals originating on the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads,
consumers will have to pay only an in
creased price for product. apparently, as
there has been no increase of freight rate
so far announced.
1t is stated that the situation thus de-
veloped would make it appear that the
Washington market is being discrimi-
mated against by the roads carrying the
New river and Pocahontas GOALS as the
freight rates into Washington on New
river coal has always been the same as
the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
tariffs while a difference of freight rate
of % cents a ton has existed recently so
far as Pocahontas coal is concerned.
December IA last. a rate of S1.9O
gross ton was published on Pocahontas
Goals coming into Washington, via the
Norfolk and Western and other southern
railroads.
This is the rate which is to be increased
II cents ton April Is. The new prices