Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-28

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enzen & woodman. Advertising S.us ,.
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city; 500 Victor Bldg. Kansas Ivy
Mo.
a QUESTION or CONDITIONS.
In a letter to the Peoples Pulpit.
published in this issue, E. X. Daugn-
erty asks some pertinent questions
touching the general coal situation
and inspired. as he says. by the first
OF The Courier's series of articles deal
ing with its investigation Of coal PROB
TENS as they affect the householder.
Mr.. Daugherty, it may be stated, is
not alone in his inability to account
for present high prices of coal. Nor
does The Courier claim superior
knowledge on this score. We do know.
rs was noted in Tuesdays article, that
several operators and The Black
Diamond, oficial organ Of the coal in
dustry, admit that the maximum
prices have as a rule been all the
trafic would stand" However, The
Courier's inquiries have to do with the
effect, not the possible explanation OF
coal prices and conditions, for its in
vestigation, is made in the interest of
the consumer, not the producer nor
the distributor.
These inquiries lead to the convic-
ton. as was Stated in these columns
Tuesday, that the question of the con-
sumer's ability to obtain coal when
he wants it transcends in importance
the possible advantage he may gain IN
price should federal control fix fig
ure agreeable to him but fan to over
come the difficulties which would re-
suit from a coal shortage or car
shortage, both Of which amount to the
same thing because lack OF cars in
evitably means let-up in mine oper-
ation.
son is attempting to prevent by order
ing prompt shipments to the north
west Is not an immediate lack as COM
pared with 4 present demand for cur
rent consumption, but shortage OF
storage coal at the. Superior docks IN
comparison with the amount usually
On hand at this time Of year in prepa-
ration for the big demand which is CO.
Incident with cold weather In Duluth,
the Twin Cities and other points i4
that distribution area. This shortage.
Il may be noted. Is the result OF fall
me OF boat lines to carry their usual
summer quota from eastern mining
Aoids to the head Of the lakes. and the
hoat owners shift the responsibility to
HhA railroads, which. they assert, did
not supply cars at the usual speed.
The railroads. In turn, blame the ex-
lrsordinary wartime demand for roll
Ing stock and locomotives for their
failure to transport coal as usual, and
40 the endless chain Of disclaimers
goes on.
These controversies. however. do
not concern the individual consumer,
whereas the result Of Nconditions-a
threatened shortage in the supply of
coal available for his use next winter
docs concern him. Therefore they
were not discussed in The Courier's
article to which Mr.. Daugherty refers
and which deals with conditions rath.
or than with their causes.
There is no doubt, as we have stat
ed, that the potential coal production
IN America is so per cent in excess OF
normal demands. But there is serious
question whether the possibilities can
be realized in time to prevent an &C
xVR 0nOIlAAG Ol COdl uSAl WIutcl. OC-
eaNDo the coal must be moved from
me mine as fast as it is produced and
because the railroad and steamship
lines are not equipped to carry so
much more than the normal quantities
of coal In addition to the increased
volume Of freight Of other sorts which
ranks az OF major importance in the
war crisis.
These facts are set down here not
In spirit OF argument but in explain
alton Of points which may not be clear
to many consumers besides Mr.. Daug-
erty, and In explanation OF The
Courier's thrm conviction that unless
householders supply themselves with
coal for next winter Immediately they
will find themselves confronted by
shortage which proffers OF advanced
prices cannot remedy.
Mr. Daukherty's questions as to the
Justice or injustice OF specific profits
and price increases are. OF course.
1 questions which The Courier does not
attempt to answer at this time AS has
been stated repeatedly. our investiga-
ton has to do with conditions and an
effort to assist the retail coal buyer to
meet them. We have explained that
increases were brought about last year
by an increased demand coincident
with q shortage of railroad facilities
and therefore of coal production. We
SEGA prospect for greater difference
this year between demand a,si avail
able supply
At this point we could have plunged
into maze Of economic discussion In
an effort to establish the responsibility
for this depIorable state OF affairs. but
at the end Of the debate we would
have been forced to return to the In
disputable fact that the consumer
must have coal. That is the fact on
which our Investigations ard advice
have been based. and we leave the
question OF culpability to those gov
ernmental powers whose duty Is to
deal with it.
MORE OF THE SAME.