The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-01
COAL DEALERS OF
topeka PLAN TO
CLOSE UP YARDS
Few Will Try To Operate I'm
der New Price Schedule.
Quit Business Only Alternative
Left, Many Believe.
CHAOS FACING RETAILERS
Every One Is Threatened With
Enormous Losses.
No 1915 Records Available for
Fixing Local Prices.
CHAOS FACING RETAILERS
Every One Is Threatened With
Enormous Losses.

Alarm and confusion prevail today
in the offices of Topeka retail coal
dealers. Some of them will meet gov
ernment demands in price fixing to
consumers. Others threaten to sell
their available supply and close shop.
Practically all declare they are con-
fronted with heavy losses. Very few
of the men, it was declared possess
cost sheets showing detailed expense
for handling 1915 coal and there were
no definite predictions as to the i'm
mediate benefits to consumers as
result of Washington orders.
The Jackson Walker people are
probably hit harder by the order than
other Topeka companies. Their eX-
tensive holdings and an enormous
supply of coal in storage was declared
by H. NJ. Fellows, local manager, to
mean enormous losses. Fellows de-
clared chaotic conditions were certain
both in the production and retail
business. p. ]. Monaghan, represent
ing the Southwestern. said he believed
most dealers would try to meet gov
ernment rates. II. L. Peppmeyer
head of the Topeka Coal company,
would not make a positive statement
as to his plans He said the govern
ment rulings We're based on handling
ply in Kansas. A number of small
dealers. it was asserted by heads of
| large firms, would be forced to quit
Force Out Small Dealers.
The order will force small dealers
/ out of the game" said H. L. Fellows
! Il look for chaotic conditions We
don't know exactly what the order
| to quote. We will try tn meet the
rates, but it means enormous losses
! We will lose money because we have
| large supplies in storage to meet an
emergency against shortage in Iro-
! duction- We will sell al a loss
! Several dealers said the government
order was based on Pennsylvania ccaL
| The minimum shrinkage and loss in
handling Pennsylvania coal was de-
| clared to establish a basis that would
not apply in handling Kansas and
| western Goals.
| Absence of cost sheets for 1915 NAV
mean a bungling of the work of estab-
! fishing prices for this district There
are records of sales, purchases, con-
tracts and general information. Rnt
a cost sheet with overhead items
axle grease. horse shoes. SCOOP SHOW
els, harness buckles and miscelIan-
| eous items-is not to be had. That
was in the days before cost sheets
! We're known by Topeka coal retailers
Now the government has established
prices based on 1915 figures, plus not
more than thirty per cent. If the
new order means 1915 prices at the
mines or to retailers, f o. b. produc-
ton points, all is easy in Topeka. II
not, 1918 basis must be found.
Dealers Up in Air.
Retailers today declared without ex-
ception that they did not understand
the detailed plan of the government
| in fixing the prices to the customer
| They will wait until Emerson Carey OF
| Hutchinson state fuel administrator
returns from Washington where he is
:GOutiuueu ON Par Ixxoa