New-York tribune., 1917-12-31

there will be no surplus OF coal for
years to come. Even when such condl-
tions eventuate that the current de-
mand can be more than met, there VIII
be such need of coal for stocking up
purposes that active work by the pro-
ducers will be highly essential for an
extended period. Undoubtedly scores
of millions of tons will be required to
put consumers and distributors in an
easy position, and it will be many a
day before the coal salesman with ton
mage TO offer will be turned aside.
For the time being, of course, there
is no need TO develop the art OF sales
manship, and equally notable is the
downfall of the B. T. L. system as a
regulatory factor in the sale OF coal.
So far from producers entering into 1
competition for the privilege of supply
ing coal under harsh terms, we have
seen indeed more than scramble on
the part of consumers.
The high prices to which exception
was taken prior to the period Of gov
ernment regulation were IN fact
brought about by consumers anxious to
secure the tonnage requisite to the
carving on Of their industrial enter
prises, and had domestic consumers
been equally able TO make their
position known to mine owners we
would doubtless have seen most un-
usual prices for this class OF bitumi-
nous tonnage, for the question soon be-
came, not "What's the price" but
How can get coal p
Following the initial conference OF
coal producers at Washington in the
closing days of June, rudely disturbed
as its conclusions were by the adverse
criticism of one Cabinet member, WASH.
ington speedily became the centre OF
coal trade interests, and particularly
when a national fuel administrator
Was established, it became expedlent
for producers, jobbers and retailers 10
form into comprehensive groups ana
maintain representation 81 the capitsl'
In this connection we might revert TO the
preceding comment as TO the chahge
involved By comparison with FORMER
years and mention that not only were
these national organizations encour,
aged. but their cooperation was fouhd
most helpful and their activities were
freely complimented by those charged
with the supervision of affairs IN the
fuel line, the usefulness OF such asso-
Citations, often discussed by trade
orators in somewhat of an uphill night
for recognition, being freely accepted.
Many Unusual Regulations
Naturally, the abnormal conditions
prevailing have. led 20 many unusual
legal regulations. Many plans and
policies have been adopted that were
unheard of in times of earlier condi
tions. Prominent among these, even
if not important as a trade factor, IS
the municipal coal yard idea, which,
despite many unfayorable experiences,
has been taken up in various cities
and towns, only to be abandoned soon
as an impracticsble proposition. A
notable divergence from the customary
course of the trade has been the
establishment of Offices in mining cen
tres and in large cities for the purpose
of buying coal, instead of selling same, 4
many interests having gone to large I
expense in order TO properly serve F.
their constituency through obtaining
tonnage for their use.
The trend of affairs has been so uni
formly in the direction of greater I
scarcity, and price movements have
been so closely allied, that there is /
little distinction to be drawn in re- I
view of the years business between i
the progress in the bituminous and .
the anthracite branches Of the indus
try. Except when radical changes /
we're made under government author .
lty, the company price list stood rs the /
Rock of Gibraltar. notable landmark .
in the industry, but the prices OF in. .
iividual anthracite moved in accord 4
ance with the movement Of the bitumi- /
nous market, and, so far as the steam .
sizes were concerned, largely because 1
Of the bituminous conditions. In fact. I
instances were heard of where the /
domestic sizes of hard coal were will I
ngly purchased at TIE full market I.
price by steam users whose own con- /
.racts and business undertakings were /
of so profitable a nature that they /
could readily arrange TO pay the figure
demanded.
The Outlook
As to the outlook of the future, il il,
perhaps, superiluous TO say that much .
depends upon the price that is fixed .
Tor soft coal. for it is recognized that
he demand will b. equal to the pro-
luctiVo capacity of the mines for wars