Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-30
Operators Of All Bituminous
Fields East Of the Missis-
sippi Fix the Price
81 TO IS A TON SLASH
Agreement by Mine Owners
Yielding to Governments
Insistent Demand.

| Washington, June 29.-The sweep
ing reductions in the price OF Ditumi-
nous coal at all mines east Of the Mis-
sissippi river, ranging from one to
five dollars ton to the public, with a
further cut Of fifty cents to the gov
ernment, were agreed upon at con-
ferences between the operators and
officials. The new prices become eff
fective Sunday, July LIST.
Four hundred operators, who gath
cred at call from Secretary Lane,
pledged themselves to furnish their
product at reasonable price, were
represented in the final conferences
by committees from each field. Earli-
er in the day they had agreed to place
the price-fxing Internationally in the
hands Of the government through the
defense councils coal production
committee. Secretary Lane and Com
sioner Fort of the federal trade COM
mission, thus avoiding the possibility
of violating the antitrust laws. Di-
rector Smith of the geological survey,
estimated that the reduced prices
would mean that the operators would
get $1S0,OO0,OOO less annually for
their output, and that saving to the
government and the coal-consuming
public would be even greater.
| JOBBERS' PROFIT DEFINED.
| In addition to placing prices upon
lcoalht the mines, it was announced that
liobbers, brokers, retailers and COM
mission men would be permitted to
charge commissions of not more than
% cents ton, and that not more than
one commission should be charged.
In other words, the consumer will get
his coal at the mine price, plus trans
portation charges and so cents per
ton. The agreement does not affect
anthracite. The anthracite producers
have indicated a willingness to meet
J the government in the same spirit
manifested by the bituminous men.
In the final conferences trade Sc
crets between competitors, cost pri-
ces and other confidential information
was laid on the table and the govern
ment, acting as Judge, decided what
would be the highest price paid at
the mines, prices to go into effect on
the first of July, to stay in effect until
investigations are made and other
changes are ordered.
| VARYING COAL CUTS.
Representatives from various states
were asked to give the minimum price
at which they could furnish coal. The
Clearfeld district of Pennsylvania
agreed to fix its price for coal as it
was loaded at the mouth of the mine
at $5.25 to $500. Virginia did like
wise. West Virginia reduced the
current contract price of $3.50 to
$500, and Illinois and Indiana reduced
their prices to $2.75 for coal as it
came from the mine.
Alabama, which mines under diff
culties with special expenses, reduced
its price from $3.50 to $500 at the
lowest, and $500 at the highest.
All the remaining districts east of |
Illinois that were represented also
agreed to the new figures except
one or two with special conditions,
which were deferred for further con-
sideration.
Only the districts west of Illinois,
Iowa, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklaho-
ma and the Southwest-which were
not represented, remain yet to be ac-
counted for, and there is no doubt
in the minds of officials that these
districts will agree to the price reduc-
ton.