Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-18
EXPECT NO SUBSTANTIAL
COAL PRICE REDUCTION
Local Dealers Are Preparing Data
as to Selling Cost for
noes Pr. Garfield.
COTTRELL MAKES STATEMENT
Goal Sold Cheaper in Washington
Because Streets Are Better and
~ More Can Hc Hauled on Each
Load, Thus Reducing Cost.

q
2.Doubt that there would be any sub
stantiai reduction in the price OF coal
In; Richmond on October /. by which
time Harry y. Garfield Federal fuel
administrator. will set temporary
prices for the sale OF all fuel in the
United States. was expressed yester-
day by local retail coal merchants.
Dealers declared that the trade was
facing the mos: complex situation in
its history, and there was reason for
concern in Richmond over the supply
now stocked in the yards OF the mer-
chants in this city.
Richmond merchants -. facing the
worst condition they have ever known.
it was stated. They have in their yards
only about 90 per cent of the total sup
ply they had in stock az this time last
year, and because OF existing condi-
tions. 1t is impossible for them to
anticipate lSow readily coal will be
obtained later in the year when the
demand actually becomes pressing,
They also fear that transportation ia
cilities will prove great obstacle to
hefovercome.
Walker c. Cottrell. who WAS
Gently appointed 4 member of the exc
cutive committee of six of the Atlantic
States Retail Coal Merchants Associa-
ton, has just returned to Richmond.
after n conference with Administrator
Garfield.
LITTLE PROSPECT OF
REDUCTION IN PRICE
Mr.. Cottr-ll made the following
statement yesterday:
'Richmond coal dealers are now
compiling precise statements Of their
costs of doing business last year ana
over eight months of this year. These
will be in the hands OF DR.. Garfield by
c fat IN hnlj
out hopes to the people OF this city |
that coal prices TO them will be reduced /
when the exact operations of the deal +
ers are known to the Federal authori- |
ties. temporary price will be fixed |
by the first day OF October. ! cannot |
say honesty that this price will he |
lower than that now prevailing for the |
various kinds OF coal consumed here
.,Dr. Garfield impressed me as an
eInincntly fair minded official. He
wants 10 conserve the interests of !
operators. dealers and Consumers From
what know OF the situation. cannot
advise delay in the purchase and Stur- /
ing of coal by Richmond people"
why RETAIL PRICES
ARE LESS IN WASHINGTON (
lie added that he believed ali factors
must be taken into cons .dcratiou be- I.
fore prices are fixed for any one sec
iion or community. Mir. CoiiTcll pointed I
out that dealers in Washington Tor in
st,n... ,n,,ld r.,.II ,I -, l {
han H. m.rcb,,.s -, i,i>.t,'I ~
,..,us. Of Iifrcrcni daItyary r"nGi,;,,,,
In ,his .;,, ,,~.,c,f,..,m, $50
ness is ..hark- doc" I.I;rcr, ~, |
and the dealers must haul their goods
streets TN. b,lI. ~ ~, Ia, ,
inpossibl- he x,ib "a 1ut
loads whn,. i'm W,.pi,'',,,,, -, ,.r'.'
ar. made to the sid,vulDs nnn ,y...
nave, str.a,s v-;,. - ,.st. ~
i.u,n ,,;,, ,,,, r,,
t,or I'M. reason n,,,.s ,'a,
,.4,e. ,r.. ,,,ss,l,i. -,
A.,
va 80 ~ 'S''t" cas- '"'
-, H'."''"" H"" "'' "'eh taken up
n., -, ~ ''' "MHef' II.
b.I ,,,...aa '-''h'i'iSs'on
'"' purchase OF iuei
yerv Nm, ~, E oonssins .
~, - ",S 90" Placed WIN
e up o"'" OF we WINTER months the