The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-12-29
Il1-s no souE INVESTIGATING

Now that the federal government
ana many states have started invest
gotisis into the hlgh cost of win
and the soaring prices Of certain neccs-
stiles of life, ~ seems an opportune
time for somebody In New Mexico
clothed with the necessary authority
20 take a hand In the game and Do
some investigating In this state.
For the past three months New
Mexico has been face % face with a
coal shortage. so acute mas the sltu-
alton been IN some towns that NJ times
there was scarcely a pound Of coai M
the coal yards and the people were
lining from hand 60 mouth, 80 To speak
~ far as a supply Of coat was con-
ocrned. And then. when coal ala
come. the dear consumer found that
the price had been boosted about
twenty-five per rent higher tina IL
had been during previous winters.
Not only have New Mexico towns.
suffered BY reason OF a shortage of
coal and the exhorbitsnt price that
Is charged when n rial supply ia re-
ceived. but towns In other states.
which draw their supply Of coal from
New Mexico. have Jared ever worse
than we have III Paso reports that
there IL not found a pound OF coal
Go be bought In the city and the short
age may continue indefinitely. The
excuse first advanced by the dealers.
when he shortage began to grow
acute was the scarcity 81 coal cars
on the railroads connecting with the.
mines, Then they claimed the trouble
was due to a sarcity ~ labor at the.
mines Coa has advanced In price.
there from $3.50 20 $500 a ton In.
the last two months The coal short
q coupled with cold weather. ~
causing untold suffering. especially
among he o o
Practically all the Arizona towns.
which likewise derive their coql sup
ply from New Mexico. are In the grip.
OF a shortage. so serious has the sit
uation become that the people are
alarmed and there Is fear that many
Will actually perish for lack OF warmth
should the present cold . snap and
shortage Of coal continue. Douglas.
liisbeo n other towns report that
not n pound 81 coal II o~btainable. The
poor are resofting 10 the use Of wood.
oftcntimos burning their household
furniture in their efforts to keep
from freezing.
just whore tho trouble lies l. q
matter 20 be determined by a thor
oush and impartial investigation. But
u n a strange situation. 10 say the
least, for New Mexico. with her vast
deposits ~ coal, TO be unableSo sup
ply the people o. the state and ad-
Joining states with sufficient fuel to
Keep them warm.
a recent ISSUE Of the Modern Ner-
chant and Grocery World" published
IN an eastern city. contained this adj
vice 20 retailers printed prominently
on tho cover.
Cor umors ore being educated TO-
day by a variety Of conditions to pay
good prices for everything they buy.
The retail merchant who doesn't take
advantage % that had better drop out.
Never again viii he have such a
chaurp.
We had thought the pirates Of olden
lime we're dead. But II they are /,
seems Go De "a fact which cannot be
disputed ;ha, ,hes have been succeed.
ed by e line % representatives vho
are entirely capable 81 keem.g up the
hlshhaudcd methods practiced In IA,
years gone uy. While IL il true lha,
the admonitlon quoted above refer,
particularly to the grocers. Il il moi
altogether urpiuhable that dealer. i,
other lines-coal. Tor instancc-ar
liling ON AN the traffic viii bear"
We are not making any accusations
because a. before stated. the cause o.
the coal shortage could he locate,
only aner the entire situntion ma,
been thoroughly Investigated $50
there is an opinion abroad that there
a meyer IN the woodmle and step
should be- taken at once 10 locate ~
African gentleman and drive him ou
IN the open so that me people ~ Ney
Mexico may see just what kind Of
looking geezer he H.
WIN somebody len authority pleas
'stou something %"
rH aHnr-.
Pi.itE OtTlOOk ~ BRIGHT