Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1917-09-22
bISbEE FUEL DEALER
TAKES EXCEPTION TO
MORNING EDITORIAL
Local Man Contends That
Printed Statements Are Un-
fair to the Dealers in the
Warren District.


Editor Review
In this mornings editorials of your
paper you have, under the caption
THE PRICE OF COAL" an article
manifestly unfair to the fuel dealers
of this city. and feeling the you were
sincere even though in error in many
statements made, we take the liberty
to point out to you, by request of all
interested, those errors and ask that
you at least PLAY FAIR until the mat
ter is definitely adjusted ythe gov
eminent.
To begin: You state that New Mex
leo coal is $40 at the mines, quoting
Dawson coal. First, there is no New
Mexico rate, as none was definitely es-
tablished for New Mexico. Secondly,
there is no definitely established rate
at any mine by the government, be it
New Mexico or any other state. The
government fixed a tentative rate as
a basis to work upon for the various
mines. from which it has receded, af-
ter a conference with the operators,
and now agrees to readjust the whole
basis of prices at the mines granting
in most instances an increase over
former basis. Until that basis is fix
ed and becomes permanent nothing
definite can be done.
Back to the Dawson coal Will say
that Dawson coal, in this district, is
not used as a domestic coal, but is
steam coal. Were it domestic coal
it would, on account of freight rates
and other considerations, take proceed
ent in this district, but as it is. it is
not handled here but little if at ali.
Last winter when the district was up
against it so hard an effort was made
to get Dawson coal but nothing do
ing"
Further as to the New Mexico coal
fields. While you freely quote from
there and leave false impressions with
the public you do not tell the public
that the Gallup District, where the
cheaper and better grade of coal comes
from, has been closed, in so far as the
domestic trade is concerned, and has
been since July first on account of la
Dor troubles. On yesterday we were
in receipt of reformation from the
of the Gallup-American
Mines that no domestic coal could be
from the Gallup District this
winter. That eliminates New Mex
leo. Please tell the public this.
You say, after quoting Dawson
GOAL: Some where between the pro-
1ucer and transporter and consumer
the retail dealer) some one
S making ten dollars a ton on coal. "
This so unfair a statement that We
are more than surprised at the Re-
view, which usually tries to stick to-
iacts, but as the article was written
by some one wholly unfamiliar with
he facts that we forgive and try to
to-wit:
There is no source to get coal into
Bisbee except bne-your quotations |
% the contrary-and that source is
Colorado, all other fields are closed to
3isbee. Colorado coal, domestic nut
md lump, sacked and delivered tol
our yards on the Stag Dump, costs
1850 per ton. We have invoices and
freight bills to prove this, and we sell
same at $500, which gives us a gross
profit of s1.5O from which we pay our
overhead and have enough left to pos
;ibly buy a meal ticket
When we tell you. Review, that
he freight rate from the Colorado
field is s5.9S with a diversion CHARGE
Of S2O0, making an average car cost
S6O5 or total of $4,000 per car, and
hat the burlap sacks in which we are
required by the public to sack it, are
costing II lac each or S245 per ton,
making a total for the freight and
sacks alone of $500 before we touch
he coal, think you can. even though
you are some what inaccurate in fig
ures. begin to realize where the cost
comes in. To this 5000 add the cost
Of the coal, all that is now in Bisbee,
$3.50, and at the very vest and lowest
for hauling to the yard and
then delivery to the public, $500. or a
total of 500, and you have $15.50.
Where does the little retail coal man ;.
who is doing his bit, periodically
speaking, in trying to keep the dis
trict in fuel for the winter, GET OFF,
when he sells this same coal at SIP
II there ever was a time when bust
ness was placed upon an accommoda-
ton basis. for the good of the public
and the country. that time is NOW in
so far as the retail coal and wood peo-
Pile of Bisbee are concerned.
You possibly will say, THE govern
ment has fixed $2.S5 for coal at the
mines in Colorado" which is true tent.
but there is none of that coal.
at this time, on the market in so far
as we are concerned, and none can be
had until a definitely fixed price is
agreed upon, so please tell the public
this and don't. for accuracys sake. try
to sway the public againts us and do
us an injustice as you Internationally