El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-01
COAL
MEN ARE CALM
One Says $3.50 Ton Is Safe;
Another Says Dollar Less
Makes Money.

Much diversity Of opinion is held by
local retail coal dealers concerning
the new order of fuel administrator
Garfield establishing the price Of
coal On the whole the retail dealer
is not greatly excited about the sub
ject, leaving the bitterness to the
wholesaler, who is really, If the re-
taller wishes to buy directly from the
mine, without a market. All the mines
have sales offices. and by buying d.
rectly at the mines, the retailer can
lessen his expense by avoiding the
charge Of the middleman. it was said
George B. oliver, OF the West Texas
Fuel company, asserted that the deal
ers would try to keep coal at $3.50 a
ton, as they would actually lose
money II the coal sold for less. From
one local dealer il was learned that
newspaper publicity concerning the
coal business was very unpleasant a.
the coal dealer lost business after a
discussion OF coal mines, prices, and
other matters.
Several stock Up.
z. E. Held. Of Held Brothers. said:
In order TO save their customers
from suffering from a coal shortage
such as was faced last year. a number
OF coal dealers put in stock Of coal
this summer. This was done at the
prices then prevailing. which were
higher than what the government has
Set now. Based on that price, the
coal, II sold at $3.50 a ton would be
disposed Of at loss by the dealer.
When the government esta blished ex-
tremely low prices recently most OF
the mines merely shut down and It
was almost impossible FOR the dealer
20 get coal at that price. OCCASIONALLY
small shipments were obtained. but
nothing Of importance. How the latest
move or the government will affect
the coal situation I cannot predict
but ] am sure that the dealer and the
public have fundamentally the same
interests"
Dawson Is Lower.
Albert r. Dawson, Of the Dawson
Fuel sales company, said; 4 do not
see that the news viii make much
real change In the situation. We are
now selling coal at $3.50 a ton. and
are naturally, making a small profit
on IT, I think there is no reason
y ny we cannot sell at that price this
winter"
Says Must obey Ruling.
Fred J. WeckerIe. OF the Santa Fe
Fuel company, said: Whatever the
government says. we viii have TO do.
II anyone has plunged heavily on coal
he must expect TO take the chances. It !
does no good to protest. 10 be bitter. I
TO argue about the matter On the
whole the coal business should be
considered like any other business.
There are times when the profits are 1
enormous out there are other times. {
such as this. when the luck IS with I
the other side The coal business is !
one, especially in Fl Paso. which /
carries good deal OF risk The equip 1
ment is idle great part OF the year. {
~
space has TO be kept during the time I
when no profits are coming in
About 10000 Tons stored.
There IS more coal" said Mr.. 9
WecEerle, in FL Paso. than ever be- I
fore Some concerns here have laid /
in about $4,000 10 $4,000. partly Of /
borrow ed money. in coal There are /
probably between 10000 and %. 600 /
.ons Of coal here The men who laid 4
IN that amount Will lose money on it. /
-t is matter OF chance. On the other I
hand, there are seasons when they i
make money enough 20 make uD for /
that loss The coal man is the favor
te goat Tor the public. and I think i
ust now he is getting the worst OF \
IT, Wheat, which sold for 81 n bushS
several years ago is now selling at
over twice that amount Steel is now
worth $50 instead Of $50. Everything
has gone up in price. Coal IS cheaper
II the mines now than domestic coal
sver has been before"
Says It's Simple lTatfer.
1t seems to me that the matter IS
comparatively simple. The price has
leen set at the mines. the freight rates
ire known, and the dealers profit has
low been set The wholesaler Isn't
and though he has a bust
less. I don't see that he can accom-
llish much. II the retailer desires to
luy directly from the mines There fs
-lways a lot OF hot air and politics
bout the way the coal dealers are
reated. but there was not much hot
IT about the situation in the east
ast year The situation here has
ever been as bad as Il was there.
Ready To Take A Loss.
y have been in the coal business
ouger than any man now in II in FL
'aso. and 7 think that the public will
ealize II they think the matter over.
hat considering the price paid at the
nine, the freight. the handling the
GAL, storage. office expense, shrink
ge- and profit that the price charged
ow is not exorbitant. The coal deal {
rs are IN business, as are all men. for
rofit, but they are no more thieves {
nd eNtOrtionists than any other deal
rs They are not as bad as they are
ainted- In time like this everyone .
as 20 lose something, and Il IS a Door ,
Ind Of man who is so mercenary that Z
e VIII complain and fuss simply be- | {
ause he will lose a little money in '
time OF national crisis"