New-York tribune., 1917-12-31
No Summer Dulness

No Summer Dulness
The strong demand which character
lied the opening of the year continued
throughout, with nothing of the GUS
tonary early sumner weakness, and
so far from any filling up being ac-
complished thereby, the opening OF the
fall season found more than the usual
autumn demand prevalent. II was
about this time that the official prices
on coal we're fixed by the authorities
at Washington, and while the seabcard
bituminous prices were deemed too low,
particularly as regards the better
grades of coal, the fact was recognized
that so much tonnage was under con-
tract that the spot market price was
not really a matter 'of great conse-
quence TO the trade at large, and de-
spite rather alarming newspaper re-
Borts as TO what was to be done, gov
ernment control was found to be an
easier yoke thar was anticipated.
As the details were worked out 1t
was seen that a wonderful change in
the sentiment of the public and public
officials alike eventuated. The tabooed
pooling principle was not only tolerat-
cd, but urged, and many plans and pol
iicies which would have been consid-
cred as savoring of criminal nature
received complete sanction by those IN
a position to pass upon them. Not
only were railroad facilities and cargo
shipments pooled, but local associa-
tions of wholesale and retail dealers,
coal exchanges and other organizations
were encouraged or revived from the
quiescent state TO which they had sunk
under the attack of public opinion, if
by no other force.
Particularly fortunate were the an
thracite interests in the measures
taken for their control at this time.
Having long been under the harrow OF
criticism and investigated by one body
and another during a period Of forty
years at least, they had at command
such an aggregation of figures pre-
viously compiled in their defence that
they were able to lay before the au-
thortes full and complete details
showing definitely what the cost of
production amounted to. And the So
called trust, long the object Of news
paper criticism, not only had its prices
approved by the highest authority, but
it developed that, instead of these be-
ing higher than the prices the indie
pendent interests could or would sell
at, they we're lower, a differential of
70 cents per ton on the domestic sizes
being authorized.
As the year progressed the shortage
of labor proved to be continuing
factor becoming indeed more notice
able when the enactment Of the draft |
law and the growing demands of the
military establishment and its accesso-
ries made further inroads upon the
labor of the country. This led up
naturally to a seco6d readiustment of
the wage scale, and by consequence a
further advance in the price of coal
was officially sanctioned in order to
cover same. Fortunately for the dis /
tributers, such publicity was given to .
the reason for the later advances and /
there wds such confidence in the ac-
tiyities of the governmental depart |
ments and bureaus charged with super |
vision of the coal interests that the |
prices were accepted with less criticism |
than the normal monthly advances of |
ten cents a ton in anthracite commonly |
create.
Years to Overcome Shortage