Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-24
THE COAL SITUATION.

AS LQe result OF somewhat extern
sive Investigations The Courier has
made during the last few weeks, with
a view to getting at the exact facts
with regard to the coal situation as
1t concerns the individual householder
and coal consumer, we are of the
opinion that the greater portion of
the furore which has ragged so f1ercely
touches the ultimate consumer on the
question of supply rather than that of
price.
The price issue Is major one with
the coal buyer who figures his years
wants by carloads or hundreds of cars
and who, because of the dominating
proportions of his purchases. realizes
gain or loss of hundreds or thousands
of dollars as the result of minor fiuc-
tuations in coal prices.
But to the householder, with whose
interests The Courier is concerned,
the important question In connection
with coal is Can get 1t when want
it," not, "Will 1t cost S. or Sc ton?"
The average dwelling can be heat
ed through the average winter by the
burning of fifteen or eighteen tons Of
coal Fluctuation of 81 ton in price
pense to the householder, or perhaps
So month during the coal months.
This sum is small compared with the
Increases the same ordinary citizen Is
compelled to meet in other items Of
living expense, and in great many in
stances he pays the advanced price
without murmur.
But he wants coal when he needs it.
He prefers to pay $15 or SIS year
extra for 1t rather than risk cold, dis
comfort and sickness in his family as
the result of inability to keep his
home warm in winter.
And because this risk is very pres
ent one this year, on account OF the
extraordinary demand for coal which
exceeds the tonnage all the coal mines
of America will be able to produce,
The Courier urges It's readers to buy
coal for the winter without delay and
at the present prices, rather than wait
for government control to reduce the
figures.
1t may be possible for national
coal controller to pool all the coal pro-
ducing and transporting agencies IN
America and effect reduction In
price. but SUCH I0uuCllol, IL IL 10
brought about, will be small one as
far as the small user OF coal is con-
cerned.
And on the other hand, it may not
be possible to bring about any reduc-
ton. The appointment of controller
is an experiment and no one can fore
tell the success of the, plan with any
degree of accuracy.
The law of supply and demand Is
as immutable as the Ten Command
ments. 1t has governed the coal in
dustry for generations, and, In the
last analysis, it will continue to gov
ern it, whether federal control exists
or not. II the demand exceeds the
supply, someone, must be without
coal. and the only way to escape the
effects of shortage is to buy now.
If government control does anything
to assist the private consumer, 1t will
be to direct the distribution in such
way that supply may be found in
retail yards throughout the winter,
from which the improvident house
holder may obtain his current supply.
This benefit. II 1t can be obtained for
the consumer by the government, will
far outweigh any minor decrease from
present prices which may-and may
not-be won for the buyer of retail
coal by federal Intervention,