New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-03
'0AL PRICE PLOT
INQUIRY BEGINS
Investigation in Jersey
Swami ard Marshall
Ready TO Act

Although the largest coal producing
firms reiterated yesterday that there
was no reasonable basis for anxiety
over a coal shortage. Investigations, in
dependent OF New York as a municipal
ity, were announced 70 discover the
cause for the sudden upward rush OF
prices.
An inquiry into coal transportation
conditions in New Jersey was ordered
Yesterday by the Public Utilities Com
mission, in session at Jersey City. The
commissions chief engineer, in charge
Of the investigation. will endeavor 70
discover whether any coal is being
held up in course Of shipment for the
purpose Of boosting prices.
District Attorney Harry f. Lewis Of
Kings County announced that he in
tended 10 make an investigation into
the coal shortage in Brooklyn. eve
have already received some important
information" he said, "but, Of course,
we must have evidence 10 show that
prices If the District Attorneys office
is 70 take action"
Swami Awaits Complaints
District Attorney Swami and United
States District Attorney II. Snowden
Marshall said that they would be glad
TO take action on the coal question,
provided complaints were made against
specific individuals or firms alleged 20
be responsible for the speculation
which has caused prices TO fuctuate.
Arthur F. Rice, attorney for the Coal
Merchants Association, Inc, Of 80
West Street, issued a statement last
night reviewing the causes Of the
shortage and calling upon the retail
customers TO show their reasonable
ness and conservatism by being sat
ished with sufficient coal TO keep their
fires going until conditions improve.
Coal dealers anticipate, Mr.. Rice said,
that the fuel supply will be normal
again by the middle Of December.
although the big companies have
rot raised their prices, they cannot de-
liver coal and are not delivering 1t in
anything like the quantities required
even under normal conditions" Mr..
Rice's statement says. "Orders remain
untitled, and boats which have been
waiting for weeks at the shipping docks
drawing demurrage are not being load
ed"
Labor Shortage Blamed
Briefly stated, the present deplor-
able condition here is due to: An ad-
mitted shortage of miners and laborers
IN the coal regions
"An Unprecedented consumption Of
coal by manufacturing plants all over
the country;
Shortage Of cars and embargoes on
transportation;
"The exhaustion Of surplus coal az
the various stocking points on account
of the increased demand and the par
tial suspension of mining earlier in the
season, due TO the demands OF labor;
"The unavoidable disadvantage at
which this city is always placed in hav-
ing no stocking room for coal TO meet
such an emergency as the present.
Space here is too scarce and expensive
for the dealers TO carry supply ade-
quste for more than their temporary
needs
Coal Sold at s7.75
Frank Burns, of Burns Brothers, 90
Church Street. said that the retail coal
market showed no change yesterday.
He ridiculed reports OF coal Jumping
10 sl8 and SIS a ton, saying that his
firm had taken orders yesterday at
S775. He anticipated that conditions
would be normal again by the middle
Of December, barring adverse weather
conditions.
There is nothing like coal famine
in New York" the president Of one Of
the largest producing companies in the
country told Tribune reporter. IF
you can show me family that is suf-
fering because Of want of coal, I'll pre-
sent them a ton free. In this warm
weather il is foolish TO talk Of fuel
famine. We are moving our coal 10
the West before navigation on the lakes
ceases. After the West is provided for
there will be plenty of time to send
coal from the mines into New York and
other Eastern centres OF distribution.