New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-22
fErom The Black D,dmond)

- thirty tons produced, the ex-
nIonation that easier transportation re-
oort,v softened the market does not III
the case. Instead, it is true that tne
fluctuations are due directly to the IN
epence OF the new progressive de-
murrage charges and in some measure
70 the fear that new progressive re-
consignment charges may be imposed az
any time. This is significant and vastly
important, because it means that in fut-
ure coal prices are likely to fuctuate
far moro wildly and quickly than they
have done at any time in the past. That
is 70 say, tho natural nervousness OF
the market Is Accentuated and magni-
fed By a new public effort to find So
luton Of tho current coal shortage by
increasing reeonsigning and demurage
charges.
The coal people have known, and now
know, only one thing, namely, that II
/ has been for a while, and is now, i'm
possible to supply the nation with all
needed fuel by direct shipments of coal
from the mines. For one thing, as the
experience Of last summer indicates.
the people have no lively sense OF any
responsibility to supply themselves
with coal ahead of urgent need. They
have always depended upon having coal
within easy reach and upon being able
to get it when they wanted it. They
/ haven't, in consequence, the slightest
notion about how long it takes to move
coal from the mines to their point of
consumption. They are not in the coal
business and are not interested enough
/ in it to care TO inform themselves about
II The average buyer of coal does not
/ know whether it takes three days or
three months to get car of coal from
any group of mines to his place. And,
candidly, he does not care. All that ne
cares about or expects is that when ne
calls up his retailer or wholesaler to
order coal that he should get il at once.
Coal in Transit
Knowing that this situation exists
and that such an established practice
cannot be overturned in an hour, the
coal people have arranged to have a
certain amount Of coal either on hand
in their yards or On wheels destined
to their place of business. With this
coal in transit, they have depended
upon being able to satisfy the urgent
needs for coal as they arose by re-
consigning certain cars after arrival
to those in need.
Also, the coal companies have al
ways had to have a certain amount
of coal In transit to Offset the de-
cidedly irregular movement of coal by
the carriers.
Without changing the basic facts
in the situation-either as to the fail
ure OF users to anticipate their needs
or as to the irregular movement by
carriers-the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the public utilities
commissions have undertaken to
change the routine Of coal movement
by assessing prohibitive charges, first
on coal held in cars, and, second. for
the reconsigning Of coal TO new desti-
nations.
The coal man. therefore, with the
facts as to supply and demand con-
fronting him and with the new de-
murrage rules depressing him, is
forced occasionally 20 find quick lodg
ment for a few of the cars of coal
that he had brought in for the pub
lies protection. And, according TO
present indications, he is going to
continue to have TO do that same
thing.
n;stvihufiop Rreaks Down