The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-17

BY OWNERS
Big PERIL
Tremendous Increase in
Coal Prices May Cause
Monumental Govern
mental Action
(By Henry M. Hyde in Chicago
TrihunaN

(By Henry M. Hyde in Chicago
Tribune.N
The most sensational and important
Happening of recent months in the
United States is the enormous in
lcrease in the price asked for coal al
the pit mouth by coal mine owners OF
the country.
1t is a matter which vitality affects
every citizen. 1t may result in radical
lalmost revolutionary, action on the
part of the national government. I'm.
less the movement is checked 1t will
send the cost Of living to unheard OF
heights.
Corporations Hard Hit.
Great corporations which contract
have been held up for an advance OF
100 per cent over last years prices
Railroad systems, which burn millions
of tons annually, are being charged
advances running to 100 per cent for
coal delivered into their own cars al
the mouth of the mines.
Some Of the contracts already made
show price more than doubled over
last year. None OF those at hand have
been made at advances Of less than
so per cent.
Some Recent Contracts.
Here are few samples of the con-
tracts that have so far been made:
The New York Central Railroad
company this week bought 600, 900
tons Of southern Illinois coal. paying
50 ton at the mine for steam lump
coal. Last year it paid for the same
coal $1.35.
The Southern railroad this week
bought 100000 tons of Big Seam coal
at $1.65 a ton. The price asked last
year was $1.12h. The mine operators
at first asked 81 a ton. but their old
contract with the Southern did not
expire until July 1. 1917. Out Of con-
sideration for the Southern canceling
the old contract and making the new
contract effective March 1. the mine
| operators cut their price to $1.65.
100000 Ton Purchases.
This week the coal docks on the up
per lakes bought 100000 tons of Poca-
hontas lump and egg at 1915 a ton.
Last year they paid $3.50 for the same
grade. The docks also purchased $780,
900 tons Of Pocahontas mine run coal
at SO a ton, against a price last year
of $1.35. .--
This week the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad bought 100000 tons of
Alabama coal at 50 a ton. Last year 1t
paid $1.231s.
Such cases could be multiplied indefi-
nitely. If corporations which buy mill
lions Of tons at the mine mouth are
pect before the smaller consumer?
What will be the effect on the cost of
living?
A Basic Factor.
Coal is the first necessity in almost
every activity of modern life. It means
transportation, power, light. heat. All
commerce is based on 1t. It's cost is
the foundation factor in the price of
everything manufactured and almost
oyaryfh thing cny1S11Vno6 .,I II
An increase in the price of coal
means increased railroad rates. 1t
means higher prices for food products
and livestock. It may mean a boost in
rents, jump in the price of gas and
electric light and power It adds to-
the cost Of producing everything we
eat or wear. 1t will cost more to keep
warm, to cook our food. to maintain a
factory, a skyscraper. a fiat. or cot
tage. A' 81,
In lifting the price of coal from so
to 100 per cent the mine owners can
not plead a short crop. Experts esti-
mate there is enough coal under the
ground in the United States to supply
all possible demands for $500 years.
Idle Part of Time.
They cannot plead that the enorrn-
ously increased demand has exceeded
the present, possible supply. The pres
ent capacity of the bituminous coal
mines Of the United States alone is
664, 000, 900 tons. Last year the pro-
duction was sos. 00O. 900 tons. There is
a balance of 155,00O,0O0 tons which
can be produced if the mines work con-
tinuously. Last year they were idle on
the average seventy working days.
The coal mine owners cannot plead
the increased cost Of labor. In most of
the coal districts the miners are work.
ing under a wage agreement which
does not expire until the spring Of 1918.
And no conceivable wage increase
could justify jump Of even fifty per
cent in the price Of coal. "
Apparently the coal mine owners are
simply charging as much as they can
get.
Contracts Repudiated.
During the last winter coal mine
owners with free coal" to dispose Of
coal which was not already sold on
contract-were able to get from two
to five times the ordinary prices for
their product. Some mines even de-
liberately broke contracts at lew prices
on various pretexts and got rich SELF
ing the coal which should have been
delivered on the contracts at enorm-
ously increased prices.
This spring they are not anxious to
make contracts at all. They figure on
a continued or an increased demand |
and correspondingly high prices as
cold weather approaches.
The coal mine owners are taking |
advantage of situation which Is full |
Of explosive possibilities. BY raising |
prices 100 per cent in perhaps the |
most basic of all industries they are /
starting something which it may take
all the forces Of the government to
control.
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