The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-12-23
Meeting viii Be Called Tonight 10 Which
Coal Dealers viii Be Invited to
Participate
|. M. CHASE REPLIES
TO MAYOR COFFMAN
Reviews Strenuous Efforts Which Local
Dealers Have Made TO Supply Fuel
10 Public

Replying to Mayor Coffman's state
ment relative to the coal famine in
Chickasha L. NJ Chase, coal dealer,
has addressed the following letter to
the Chickasha Daily Express:
Chase Replies
| ChicSasha Daily Express.
Our mayor Mr. Coffman, rushes to
press so often that ask the privilege
of answering his of December %. In
regard to the coal situation we are in
he insinuates that he can get coal when
the dealers cannot and that the dealers
of the city are in a measure to blame
for the shortage, which is misleading
in every particular.
TN the first place have exhausted
every known resource to get coal and
venture to say that what Is true Of
me is also true of the other dealers
There are several reasons for these
conditions First is the strike Of two
weeks early in November at the bus
lest season which depleted all coal in
storage And during this time coal
cars were run out of the state and
miners shifted to other states and
after this it naturally took several
days to get things in running order at
the mines, which caused more short
lage.
The mines | deal with, one Of the
largest in the state, employees 400
men, producing on an average of 5000
tons per day. and at the present time
the miners are taking four holiday
vacation which still causes more short
age.
/ take it for granted from the com
munication of our honorable mayor
that big. per cent Of the shortage is
caused by the dealers here by not
placing orders for enough in advance.
want to say that | have had a stand
ing order for at least five cars per day
since the mines opened up. after the
strike and that what is true of myself
is true of other dealers, for | know
they are all thorough business men.
Now, in regard to the price Of coal
that our mayor refers to, it was moth
ing more nor less than low grade Of
coal such that the patrons would not
use and in regard to price same is alb
surd as | have been selling a better
grade Of coal delivered at $3.50 per ton
Our best grades of soal are costing us
around 81 per ton After we take the
shrink which is caused by theft and
otherwise within stones throw Of
the mayors residence and cost Of de-
livery our margin is small.
If the city wishes to go into the coal
business my property is for sale which
is thoroughly equipped to handle coal
and will sell same to the city so that
they will be in shape to handle the
business. We all know that our may
or is a great wind jammer, always do
ing wonders and seems to be looking
out for humanity in no uncertain terms
and | would suggest that he take some
of the blood money wherein he has
people arrested and taking the last
cent Of money they have for fines, that
Christmas is at hand, that he at once
make an effort by making the families
happy by returning this money to the
said families and not dote on what a
wonderful revenue getter he is for the
city and how much money the city
has on deposit in certain banks. Seems
to me this would be little more hu-
name than to insinuate and try to mis-
lead the public that the coal dealers
OF this city were not using all possible
endeayor to supply the public wants.
L. NJ CHASE
Mayor Coffman announced this
morning that he would call special
meeting of the city council tonight to
determine what steps are required by
law and the mode Of procedure under
which the city OF Chickasha might
confiscate coal and enter the coal bust
ness if such step is later found 70
become necessary in order to relieve
tContinued on Paga Three.j