Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-12-14
70 tho Public.

Explanatory of some OF the
conditions and requirements of
our coal delivery and in justifi-
cation of our conduct of the
same. Our customers and the
public are respectfully advised as
follows:
For many years, many of our
customers have asked us i'm con-
nection with the delivery of coal
to carry the same from the street
to their bins or coal houses, such
requests being generally based
on the fact that such customers
provided no access for wagons To
their bins or coal houses.
In some instances additional
charges were made for such
added burden in delivqjng coal.
Too many of our customers. how
ever. of recent years have wholly
neglected to provide access for
teams to their bins or coal houses
and have thus greatly increased
the burden of carrying coal IN
connection with such delivery.
Again there is a great difference
among our customers With ref
erence to the accessibility of the
stOrehouse- for their coal. Some
cases require three or four times
the work that others do, and it is
very difficult to adjust charges
that are equitable and satisfac-
tory. If q fixed charge is made
the customer whose bin is not ac-
cessible to team may be within
easy reach of the street, render
ing the work of carrying compar-
atively light. Another customer 5
bin or coal house may be far re
moved. much elevated above the
street, throwing a great burden
upon the delivery man. IT we al
tempt to fix a charge i'm each spc-
cial ease it causes us much
trouble and great discomfort
among our customers.
If we make a fixed charge To
apply to all eases some will re-
ceive service greatly i'm excess OF
the amount paid, while others
would pay i'm excess of the Scrv-
ice rendered.
In addition to the foregoing
trouble the time lost i'm carrying
coal was so great that it largely
limited our facilities for deliver
ing, and with the difficulty of OBJ
tanning suitable labor for such
purpose, and from the fact that
too many of our customers delay
placing orders -until cold or bad
weather is upon us, il became
practically impossible and at
heast wholly impractical to fill
o,sr orders within reasonable
tnee where so many cutomcrs re-
CURED us TO carry coal from tho
street, To their bins or store
houses. This custom therefore
of carrying coal from the street
to bins was lately discontinued by
us, and the custom will not he
revived unless the facilities Tor
delivery can be greatly increased
and some means devised where
by an equitable and satisfactory
distribution of such increased
cost can be made.
Disseminating this system is
not for want of appreciation oil
the liberal patronage which W.
have enjoyed i'm the past. and The
continuance of which we wolld
greatly appreciate. But ii is q
move tending toward The end that
we may better serve our Gus
toners on a just and equitable
basis and al the same time re-
ceive proper compensation for
our material.
We admonish all persons
whether at present our custom
ers or not, 10 provide suitable
access for teams to their GOA
houses or coal bins, and we rspc-
cially advise all parties here
after constructing buildings
whether for business or residence
purposes, to see that proper
driveways are provided by which
their storehouscs and bins may
he reached without difficulty, and
thereby the extra cost, delay and
annoyance in delivering coal will
be illuminated and all customers
will be much better served and
satisfied.
We are of the opinion that few
of our customers realize the diff
faculties that their own ncgli-
gence imposes upon us. They
are likewise unmindful of their
own financial interest as we'll as
the general comfort and convcn-
fence of their fellowman.
You are advised that the local
dealer is a sort Of middleman and
has very little control over the
price of coal, and the conditions
how are the most diScOllragine
and most unsatisfactory of any
period during our thirty five
years of business, excepting pos
sibly during the hard coal strike