The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-12
Quotations Far Below ThOs
Made to Consumers.
one MAN BOUGHT A CAR
Then Tried To Get Another, but
Dealers Prevented 1t.
Is Effort Being Made To Ward
on All Competitions!

ropeNn cv~I dealers, quoting uni
FORM prices, are charging consumers
$4,000 more a ton for Cherokee or
Frontenac nut coal than the South
western Coal company is charging the
city and placing it on track at the city
waterworks and electric light plant
The coal is being billed to the city at
$40 ton. Dealers here, including
the company holding the city contract
are quoting prices of 1925 a ton.
Frontenac nut is being delivered at
the detention hospital and Cages park
at S6.25 ton. 1t is being delivered
in wagonload lots to the auditorium,
police station and fire stations at
SKIS. which is $3.50 less than the
prices quoted to consumers.
The prices quoted on the city de-
1iperies are the prices the contract
company is asking from the city and
not the contract price. short time
ago the Southwestern Coal company
asked the city to allow it so cents
more a ton on all grades because of
raise operators placed in effect The
increase asked is now under consid-
Grafton in the commission. In the
meantime the Southwestern Is billing
the coal to the city and including their
increase. The above prices include
the requested increase. The contract
is effective until November / and
quotes Frontenac nut at the water
works for $500 and S4.25 at the po-
lice station and auditorium and $4.75
az the detention hospital and Cages
park.
Frontenac lump is being delivered
at the police station. the fire stations
at $3.50 a, ton, which is SIPS less than
the uniform price quotations of So. IS
by all dealers here, the company max
ing the deliveries included,
Usage City and Burlingame coal is
being delivered to the city at the de-
tention hospital and Gage park and
billed at 1915 and $3.50 a ton. To
the consumer the dealers are quoting
prices of $6.25 a ton for Usage and
Sc for Burlingame. This is a differ
ence of so cents a ton.
Double Cost at Mines.
The price of Burlingame coal is
being practically doubled from the
time 1t leaves the mines and the time
il reaches Topeka consumers, about
thirty miles away. Burlingame CT
$3.50 a ton. The freight rate to To-
pelSa is So cents a ton. Retail dealers
here are quoting prices of Sc a tn.
This is a $2.75 and $3.50 increase or
hike of So and $2.25 after the freight
rates have been excluded.
The value of Usage City coal some
where between the mines and Topeka
consumer, is increasing Sc per cent.
Usage coal is selling at the mines for
~ ton, maximum price. The retail
l
S6.25 ton. The freight rate to To-
peka is 50 cents a ton. the same as
rom Burlingame to Topeka.
They Tie Up Cars?
while refusing to compete among
themselves, Kansas coal dealers are
apparently building their fences to
ward off any competition from other
sources. Three weeks ago H. J. Skin
ner, Topeka man, ordered a car of
coal from the Burlingame district and
placed it in his cellar for 81 a ton.
the freight included, according to in
formation he gave the State Journal
t9day. A few DAYS ago Skinner at
tempted to ship another car to Topeka
and found he could not get cars. The
coal dealers had contracted for all
cars that would be available for
months, he declares.
photographic information received
today from State journal correspon-
dent in Kansas City stated that the big
majority OF companies, reliable with
out question, there are selling semi
anthracite coal for $S.25 and $3.50 q
ton. retail. The uniform price in To-
peka Is $40 ton, difference of S1.75
and $3.50. The difference in freight
rates is only SO cents. Dealers adver-
Using in Kansas City newspapers con-
tnue to quote prices of $3.50 ton for
seni-anthracite. At either of the
prices coal could be purchased in Kan
sis City and shipped to Topeka cheaper
than 1t can be purchased retail in To-
peka.
In statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers Wednes-
day, President Wilson gave assurances
that Just prices would be paid by the
government and the public curing the
war, but warned that 10 dttemDt to
extort unusual profits will be tolerat-
ed
He said:
I'VE must make prices the public