The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-03
North Side News

While coal dealers in Topeka are
being charged with selling fuel for
excessive prices they quote figures to
show the actual profit with they re-
ceive. B. Billiard today quoted the
price of a we'll known grade of Kan
sas coal and traced the items of ex-
pense which comprised the ultimate
charge to the consumer.
Take southern Kansas lump,
common grade of soft COAL" said Mr..
Billiard This coal costs $3.50 whole
sale at the mine. To ship it to To-
peka under tn. old freight rate costs
$1-22 a ton. We must allow rs cents
a ton for shrinkage, and II cents for
the unloading charge. The cost of de-
livering the coal to the consumer, in
Guiding drivers wages, upkeep of
wagons, horses, etc.. is approximately
rs cents a ton.
I'VE must allow rs cents a ton for
overhead expense, including all items
of charge in conducting the office
work and administrative side of the
business Thus the total cost Of a
ton of southern Kansas lump to us
is $6.09.- We sell this coal for from
$3.50 to 1878.
"Our profit is between Al and Sc
cents. 1t has been shown by expert
ence in the coal business, that to re-
turn a legitimate profit on the invest
ment. and enable the merchant to
operate on a commercial basis re-
quires a net profit on each ton OF
coal from so cents to 81, depending
on the grade. At present there is
Is cents a ton advance in freight rates
between southern Kansas points and
Topeka, which will materially narrow
the margin of profit"
According to the account given by
James Conley, the Rossville boy VINO
was injured in a motor collision with
the car of B. H. Pugh,- Thursday aft
Laurent street, the motorcycle on
which Conley was riding was not. hit
by Pugh's automobile.
Conley asserts that he attempted to
pass Pugh, and that his machine
skidded on the cobblestones of the car
track, throwing him under the wheels
of the car.
Pugh says that when his car struck
Luscomb he was almost opposite
where Luscomb was repairing tire
in front of the Shawnee Motor COM
pany garage. This account of the &C
cident is somewhat at varianc with
that of other eye witnesses. Pugh
took Conley to the police station in
city physician dressed the boys
wounds. Conley later returned to
Rossville with his two companions.
Social and Personal
Mrs. D. C. Logan and Mr.. and Mrs
Glenn Logan will leave Saturday for
motor trip to Decatur county in
western Kansas. where they will visit
friends at their former home.
Dean Van Ness will go to Ottawa
Saturday, and Sunday will join Bat
terry B at Lawrence for the mobiliza-
ton of the national guard.
Mrs. Albert Hirschberg is seriously
i'll at her home 618 North Harrison
street.
Mrs Lettie Fisher, s4s North Quin-
cy street, left Thursday for Alexander
South Dakota, for a months visit
with her daughter.
Lonnie Shore has resigned his po-5
sition with the Campbell Drug COM
pany, and will go into camp Sunday,
with the Red Cross unit Of the field.
artillery.
John jackson, of Elmont, was in
Topeka this morning on business.
DR.. and Mrs. c. H. Thompson are
the parents of daughter, born
Thursday.
Paul Bayse. of Bartlesville, Okla, is
| in North Topeka visiting his parents
for few days.
Dave Wallace returned Thursday
from a summer vacation spent in
Michigan and Minnesota with rela-
tives.
Prof. Kirkpatrick, of washburn
college, will lead the Epworth League
of the Kansas Avenue Mthodist church.
Sunday evening. s
Mr.. and Mrs. Bert Kingman of
North Tyler street ar the parnts of a
daughter, born Wednesday.
L. Christman, of Kiro, was in To-.
peka today on business
Word has been received here of the
death of Mrs. Mary Hicks of Knox
villet. Tenn. Mrs. Hicks was the mother
OF the Rev. Joseph P. Hicks, pastor
OF the Second Presbyterian church.
DR.. Hicks will return from Harnesses
Saturday.