The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-02
Bush Wires That Garfield May Make Further MOdi-
 ficatiOns if Justified RETAILER SAYS 1915 WAS PROFITLESS IN LOCAL COAL CIRCLES Feeling Among Operators, However, Is That While Not Satisfied They
 Might Have Been
 Harder Hit"

the Presidents scale of coal prices as announced Sunday by H. A. Garfield, coal administrator of the governme int , cannot as = be accurately expressed, according to statements yesterday by operators and retail dispensers in Bir- mingham. The men most seriously af- fected are an1iously awaiting com plete explanation from Washington.
 George B. Mccormack president of the Alabama Coal Operators associa- tfon, declared that in his judgment, the margin of increase allowed by pr. Gar field would about cover the increased mining scale which went into effect yesterday. He expressed the opinion that it would be exceedingly difficult for certain small operators to continue business.
 Frank Rushton, from the retailers sta tandpoint, admitted that he was up in the air" Instead of a profit in 1915, MT. Rushton stated that he had lost about 13 cents per ton. The authority granted retailers to add to their 1915 position, he said, to dispense coal at loss no greater than 10 cents per ton. MAY MODIFY PRICES FURTHER
 A dispatch to opera tors of Birmingham by Morris w. Bush, who is in Wash ington. contained information to the eff feet that the revision as announced by Garfield was subject to modification. The administrator was quoted as hav- ing officially stated that if as result of further investigation of Alabama cost sheets it was found that the ad vances permitted were unjustifiable, they would be corrected. This was con strued by the operators to mean that scale would be reduced it was also possible that as result of further in quiry, it would be increased.
 The prevailing opinion among opera tors was that while they haven't se- cured that for which they strove, they could have been harder hit" It was stated by one of the most prominent operators that by the practice of most rigid economy, by the reduction in mum Der of men employed in other than mining capacities, and by greatly in creasing output, the district, as whole, would manage to continue operation.
 This operator added, however, that some of the operators of small proper ties would survive in business only with the greatest difficulty, and expressed fear that some would be forced to close their doors
 ATTITUDE OF RETAILER
 MT. Rushton very frankly discussed the situation for The Age-Herald. al- though he admitted that he had no thorough understanding of the proposi- ton he was endeavoring to discuss.
 "At the present time," he added, mo retailer can make an intelligent state ment as to the effect of the price scale. think it would be proper to state that retailers very probably will con tinue until better informed to dispose of coal at prevailing prices with the understanding that as soon as chaos has surrendered to order, adjustment will be made s. P. Kennedy, administrator for Alabama, Is now in Washington. On his return, he will be requested to make an official statement as to the exact methods retailers must pursue.
 Tn 1915 practically every local retailer lost money. Therefore, there was no profit in that year on which we might work in determining present prices. In July, however, some of us made small profit per ton. If we are permitted to make that small profit henceforth, we will manage to survive"
 GARFIELD'S OFFICIAL FIGURES
 The official wholesale figures and the latest bulletin of Dr. Garfield, as wired to Birmingham by MT. Bush, follows:
 ..The fuel administration announces further classifications of bituminous coal within several outlying fields on the lines heretofore laid down by the President in fixing the prices of coal. The conditions in the fields named be- low are exceptional and do not affect the prices heretofore fixed by the President in the principal bituminous fields. If upon completion of the investigations now being made of operators costs in the fields affected. 1t IS found that these changes are not justified, further modi- fications will be made at once.
 The prices follow:
 Big seam: Mine run, $2.15; prepared sizes, $245; slacks or screenings, N.S5
 Pratt, Jagger. Jefferson. Nickel Plate, Coal City-Mine run, $2.36; prepared sizes, s2e5; slack or screenings, s2.06.
 Cahaba, Black Creek. Brookwood, Blue 8. 10; slack or screenings, $2S .
 Corona-Mine run. $40; prepared sizes. $275; slack or screenings. $205
 Montevallo-Mine run, $40; prepared sizes, N; slack or screenings. $2.b.