The Detroit times., 1916-10-20
COAL DUE
FOR RISE
IN PRICE
Substantial Advance Is
Imminent, Declare
Local Dealers
CAR SHORTAGE
IS ONE REASON
Another Is Scarcity of
Labor Due to War

The coal strlngency grows more
acute with advances in prices Inn
minent and little relief in sight
Shortage OF cars, growing scarcity
OF labor and increased Industrial ac-
tivity which means Increased coal
consumption are the influencing fac
tors in this situation. which, while
being nationwide In effect. is hitting
Detroit telling blow.
J. r. Johnson, coal sales man
aver for The United Fuel a supply
company. quotes egg coal az $500.
and chestnut al sS75 How long II
will remain that low he cannot tell
he saws The company has been
swamped with orders as has every
other coal company IN the city Con
Fumers arc lighting for coal despite
the hlgh prices; retailers are press
Ing the operators and the operators
nre CRYING for LABOR and cars, as
scrts Mr. johnson
one az the largest mines In me
Tutsbursh fields "Wednesday quoted
f965 as it's lowest price. Detroit de-
livery. for anthracite, which would
mean cost ~ nearly So a ton 10
the consumer here The United Fuel
a supply company declined 10 tab"
II AZ this figure. not wishing to on.
courage high prices, Mr. Johnson
said
MI johnson rorecasted the pres.
ont conditions as far back az April
when he sent CUT circular letter
urging consumers 20 place orders
FOR summer delivery He explained
that labor was scarce because theJ"
vas It'll, immigration. due 70 The
war. and that many Of those IN tho
fields were deserving the mines 10
serve their country one OF the
chief troubles now Is the independ
cnce - tho minor. Who quits work
at 4 O'Clock in the afternoon. hay.ns
made s. and s.. Mr. Johnson aid
The France Coal company. N To
icdo. advised the United Fuel <
supply company Wednesday. chat
its special representative had found
I'm the Kentucky ana NIrEInIa God
fields tina, labor was SO scarce iha'
even II the mines had The ears they
could not use them. while on the o'h
or hand the operators are not get
ting more than a throodsy supr'
tAf. l. o.
ouate 20 take care " he demand
Before the war England exported
$4,000. 900 tons OF coal a year, Ger
many 4o.ooo.0lo, and the United
states 5000. 600 Last year Eng
land expected only $4,000 600 tons
the United states 2o,oooooo and
Germany none.
Demands for tho expectation OF
coal from this country. therefore
have been coming IN from the ua
tons formerly supplied hy Europe
South America. especially, has fell
this shortage Of nearly 1o.ooo,oo'
tons
The freight item has raised the
price Of bitumnous coal exported
from this country 20 Mediterranean
ports. TO between $40 and $50
Prices I'm this country have been
raised accordingly 20 equal the,'
high rates. less the freightage.
Increased manufacturing- espc
cially in munl'ions--hes brought q
demand Oh the coal merchants with
which they find IL impossible %
comply.
The increase in manufactures has
caused tremendous freight conges
ton thruout the country and coup
led with increased crop and STOCK
movements. this has meant a car
shortage.
Mine owners are complaining that
the higher wages they are payin-
their men have not had the effect OF
getting more Hcrk cut Of them.