Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-29
CUT IN COAL PRICE
ACT OF PATRIOTISM
Secretary Lane Praises Btu
minous Operators for Spirit
They Displayed.
ANTHRACITE COMES NEXT

bituminous coal agreed to at meeting
between the coal operators and govern
ment representatives here yesterday
should be felt in this city about July Id.
The prices fixed at the meetings in most
instances were $3 ton for mine run
and $3.50 for egg and domestic sizes. a
reduction of about so per cent in the
prices now prevailing at the mines.
Most of the bituminous coal received
here comes from West Virginia and
Pennsylvania. according to a local
dealer. The prevailing Pennsylvania
price is from s4.75 to s6. and the reduc-
tion is to So for mine run and So so for
lump and egg sizes. In West Virginia
the price now is from $3.50 to Sc ton
and the new price will be SO for mine
run and $3.50 for lump and egg sizes
All bituminous coal mined in Maryland
which now sells at from $575 to ss Is
reduced to SO for mine run and $3.50 for
lump and egg. domestic sizes. All
bituminous coal mined in Virginia
which now sells at from $3.50 to s5 is
reduced to 50 for mine run and $3.50 fol
lump and egg. domestic Sizes
Reduction for Government.
The government is allowed fifty
cent reduction per ton on all of these
prices.
Under the agreement all contracts now
In force will be carried at the contract
prices. the reductions to take place a,
the expiration of the contracts.
II local dealers place orders Univ I
1t will take from five to ten days for
the cars to arrive here, it was said
today.
However. the car situation probably
VIII snow great Improvement from now
on, under the direction of the rail-
roads war board. which keeps a con-
stant check on equipment to make
sure that the demand for cars is sup
piled promptly. Under the increased
loading plan the capacity of the pres
ent equipment of the railroads is be-
ing enormously increased.
Prices on anthracite coal. used
mostly In the dwellings here, were nor
touched by this meeting Of the op-
orators. The coal production commit
Zee 1ee, announced mo- s that action on that prob
lem mad been postponed until after
July by agreement with the operators.
Ine anthracite producers have indi-
Gated Willingness to meet the govern
ment In the same spirit manifested by
the bftumfnous men.
Director George Otis Smith OF the
United States geological survey esti-
mates that the action on bitumfnous
coal will effect a reduction to the con-
sumers east Of the Mississippi river
OF $15,000,000 a month.
The prices are maximum price. AZ
the mines. To them must be added
cost Of transportation and handling.
The committee also agreed that the
commission for jobbers would be 25
cents ton. and only one commission
W0uo De paid, no matter how many
Jobbers handled the product.
Handled in Large Way.
After hearing of the operators, action
Secretary Lane wrote a letter to F. 8
Peabody. chairman of the coal pro-
duction committee. in which he ex-
pressed appreciation of the generous
prompt Pro ana patriotic manner In which
They have dealt" he said, with the
situation in the way that I had hoped
they would. as large men dealing with
a. large question. They manifestly see
that this is no time in which to con-
the war gives for personal aggrandize-
ment"
AS the conferences were closing Sec
retary Lane paid tribute to the op-
orators for their manner of responding
to the call upon them.
This is a distinctly novel proceed
ing" he said 'T hope that you will
be looked upon not only by those who
succeed you In the coal business, but
by the industries of the United States,
with respect and admiration for the
manner In which you have acted at
this conference. You have RESPONDED
as to call by the people of the United
States. You are not a removed class
You are business men. You belong to
the people. You have shown sympathy
with the people and understanding Of
your relation to them. That is every
thing in a democracy.
There is a strong contention made
that this government cannot meet to
the full the demands that are to be
made upon 1t, not only in times of
STRESS. but in fact in any time. It is
contended that other governments are
more competent and more enicient
because there is a strong hand above
the people. threatening. menacing.
compelling If we in the United States
are to work out our problems, eco
nomic and social. as we have worked
out our problem political. we must
work it out, in my Judgment, in the
way in which you have worked out this
problem"