Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-08-23
PUBLIC WILL NOT
BENEFIT BY CUT
IN COAL PRICES
Victor White Says Omaha Coal
Wen Have Filled Their Bins
at the Former High
Prices.
BULLETIN.


ers' company, Chicago, said to be
the largest retail coal dealers in the
world, today announced a slash of
from 81 to Sl80 on soft coal, ef-
fective Immediately. This is in line
with the price fixed with President
Wilson. Other dealers will make
similar cuts at once, it was said. 1t
was estimated the reductions will
cut Chicago's coal bill by $30,000,000.
Unless the government puts d
crimp in the plans OF the wholesalers
and retailers of coal indications are
that the consumer is not going to de-
rive any immediate benefit from the
cut of 81 toS2 per ton that President
Wilson has ordered in the selling
prices at the mines. This is the opin-
ion of Omaha coal dealers.
The reason why coal is going to be
sold to the consumers at the present
prices, Notwithstanding the reduction
ordered in mine prices, is due to the
fact that jobbers and retailers are
stocked to capacity with the high
priced coal, bought during the sum-
mer.
While local dealers are short Or
their supplies of hard coal, they have
the normal quantity of the bitumi-
nous and semi-anthracite grades on
hand and it is asserted that if there
is no more. coal shipped into Omaha
there is enough in stock to last up to
pretty close to the first of next year.
Victor White, who has been in the
coal business for years and is con-
nected with the G. n Dietz conf
pany, cays:
Would Mean Bankruptcy,
ITO make the dealers comply with
the conditions OF the presidents
price-fixing plan would be to work
great hardship upon the coal dealers
of the country. 1t would force them
to lose enormous sums and perhaps
many of them would be brought face
TO face with bankruptcy. s.sss,e.~
During the earfyas SUMMER, aatssE
pating a car shortage and inability to
get coal later in the season, the job
bers bought large stocks. and In turn
sold to the retailers AS result,
the bins of both wholesalers and job
bers are filled. The coal was bought
at the high prices that maintained at
the time, and most of it still remains
in the possession of these same pur-
chasers.
Some time ago consumers con-
ceived the idea that there would be
cut in soft coal prices and very few
OF them bought the winter supply.
The fact is that there is hardly a
family in Omaha that has laid in the
winter stock of soft coal.
Dealers See No Way Out.
In the event the government
should force the dealers to sell the
coal now on hand and absorb the loss,
it would mean ruination to many. The
loss would be from ST to s. and i'll
some instances S. ton.
'I> don't see how this loss is going
TO be taken care of. Perhaps the gov
ernment will work out some plan
in the difference in price to the job
bers and retailers. Only time will tell
what is to be done and what can be
done.
"Of course, coal bought from now
on, will take the reduced prices, but
| don't believe dealers will make
many purchases until the stocks now
on hand are disposed Of"
Randall K. Brown, head OF the
Coal Hlls Coal company: Unless
the government should issue an Or
der compelling the dealers to unload
their present stocks of coal and take
the loss, l don't see how the fixing
OF the price at the mines can affect