The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-07-06
WILL SAVE PUBLIC
MILLIONS ANNUALLY
That Reduction Will Mean
That More Than $18O,OOO,OO0 Will
Be Saved to Consumers.

Sweeping reductions in the prices of
bit0minous coal at all mines east of
the Mississippi river, ranging from 81
to So ton to the public with further
cut of so cents for the government,
were agreed upon today at confer
ences between the operators and gov
ernment officials. The new prices be-
come effective July /.
Four hundred operators, who gath
Secretary Lane and pledged them
selves to furnish their product at a
reasonable price, were represented in
the final conferences by committees
from each field. Earlier in the day
they had agreed to place the price
fixing in the hands of the government
through the defense councils coal
production committee, Secretary Lane
and Commissioner Fort of the federal
trade commission, thus avoiding the
possibility of violating the antitrust
laws.
Director Smith of the geological
survey estimated that the reduced
prices would mean that the operators
would get $1S0,000,000 less annually
for their output and that the saving
to the government and the coal con-
sumers would be even greater.
In addition to placing prices upon
coal at the mines rt was announced
that iobbers, brokers, retailers and
commission men would be permitted
to charge commissions of not more
than 25 cents ton that no more
than one commission should be
charged. In other words the con-
sumner will get his coal at the mine
price plus transportation charges anu
20 cents per ton.
In the final conferences trade Sc
crets between ficompetitors, cost
prices and other confidential informa-
ton were laid on the table, and the
government, acting as judge, decided
what would be the highest prices paid
at mines, prices to go into effect on
July l, to stay in effect until investi-
cations are made and other changes
ordered.
Representative from various States
were asked to quote the minimum
price at which they could furnish coal
The Clearfield district of Pennsylvania
agreed to cut its price for coal as it
was loaded at the mouth of the mine
from $5.25 to So; with $3.50 for lump
sizes. Tennessee came down from
$3.50 to So. Virginia did likewise.
West Virginia reduced the current
contract price of $500 to So and Illi-
nois and Indiana reduced their prices
to $2.75 for coal as it came from the
mine.
Alabama, which mines under diff
ferent conditions with special ex-
penses, reduced it's price from $3.50
to So at the lowest and 81 at the
highest. Maryland lowered its esti-
mate from $5.75 to the standard fig
ure, So and $3.50.
All the remaining districts east of
Illinois that were represented, also
agreed to the new figures except one
or two with special conditions which
were deferred for further considera-
ton.
The figures met the entire approval
of Chairman Peabody of the defense
councils committee, Secretary Lane
and Commissioner Fort.
The prices do not apply to coal for
export or for bunkers and of course
do not affect contracts or sales made
before July 1.
AS the conferences were closing,
Secretary Lone paid tribute to the
operators for their manner of re-
spending to the call upon them.