Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-10-01
Government Control Over In
dustry Made Complete With
Announcement of Profits Al
lowed Retailers.
MORE FAVORABLE TERMS
FOR WESTERN OPERATORS
Slight Concessions Made to-
Jobbers of Colorado and in
Ell PaSo District; Rules to
Be Rigid,
tsv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlssI

Washington, Sept. 0.-Government
control over the coal industry was
made complete tonight bS an order of
Fuel Administrator Garfield limiting
the profits of retail coal and coke
dealers throughout the country to a
basis which is expected to bring
about an immediate reduction in
prices to the consumer.
The order. effective tomorrow, di-
rects that the retailers shall fix their
prices so as to limit their gross mar
gins over cost to the average Of such
gross margins during the year 1915,
plus a maximum of 30 per cent of the
1915 margin, provided that in no case
shall the average margin of the month
OF July, this year, be exceeded.
Local committees appointed by the
led0iat fuel aantrf,stlator in eaall
state will see to it that the dealers
comply with the order and the dealers
themselves will be called upon to re
turn sworn cost sheets showing the
facts upon which they have based
their prices.
About Same as 1915.
DR.. Garfield selected 1915 as a nor
NAL year because the coal shortage
which resulted in continued rises in
prices did not begin until 1915. The
additional 80 per cent is allowed to
cover the increase in the retailers
cost of doing business which has in
creased substantially during the past
two years Prices already fixed by
the government for coal at the mouth
of the mine are near those charged in
1915, and with the jobbers' charge
now limited to 25 cents ton and the
cost of transportation not materially
increased, the consumer in every com
munity should be able to get coal Of
any description at approximately the
price he paid in 1915.
In other orders tonight the fuel ad.
ministrator made the first revisions Of
his recently fixed prices of coal at the
mine. One makes changes on anthra-
cite pea coal in the Pennsylvania
field.
Some Upward RevisiOns.
Another order revises upward the
mine prices in certain bituminous dis
tricts in which unusual conditions
exist, making the cost of production
greater than in the principal bitumi-
nous fields. The new prices for run
OF IDp mine coal Ill SoIiiN VI thtot h'o
tricts follow: Bituminous domestic
coal in Walsenberg, Canon City, Routt,
Garfield, Gunnison, Durango. Mesa.
Pitkin, Montezuma. Delta, Montrose
and Rio Blanca districts, Colorado, SO;
bituminous steam coal in Trinidad
district, Colorado. $2.75; Ignite coal
in the northern field and FL Paso dis
trict, Colorado, s2.45; state of Wyo-
ming $3.50
The increases allowed are to meet
figures presented by mine owners, in
many cases showing that the prices
previously fixed would not allow a
margin of profit above cost OF pro-
duction. An additional 90 to 40 cents
ton has been allowed in most cases,
including the Alabama field, where
mine owners protested that the gov
ernment's prices would drive them out
of business.
Tonight's orders also provide that
smithing and camel coal may be sold
at prevailing market prices until fur
ther notice.