The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-01
BITUMINOUS COAL
PRICES REDUCED


luminous. coal in the United States by
order OF Fuel Administrator II. A. Gar
field. The new price took effect at
seven o'clock Saturday morning. May
25th, and represents an average re-
duction of nearly five per cent.
The order reads as follows:
THE United States Fuel Administra
tor, acting under authority of an Exec
utive Order of the President, dated %
August, 1917, appointing said admins
traitor and of subsequent executive or
ders and in furtherance of said orders
and of the Act of Congress therein re-
ferred to and approved August 10,
1917,
Hereby orders and directs that all
prices for bituminous coal f. o. b. mines
in the coal-producing districts through
out the United States fixed by the said
executive order of the president, dated
81 August, 1917, and subsequent ord
ers of the United States Fuel Admir,i-
traitor and in effect at a. m, on the
25th day of May, 1918, shall be and the
same hereby are reduced as to all SHIP
ments made after Z a. m, on the 2otn
day of May, t91, by the sum of ten
cents for each net ton of 1000 pounds.
This order shall in no way affect
the increase contained in the eXecu-
tive order of the president, dated u
October, 1917, adding the sum of forty
five cents to the prices fixed Tor Dl-
luminous coal under the terms and
provisions set forth in said last men
toned order.
Saves Consumers S60,O0O,O00; Costs
Railroads s45,000,OO0.
The reduction will mean an annual
saving to consumers of sum estl-
mated by the Fuel Administration at
$50, 900. The president has ,directe,
that the railroads pay the government
price for coal. The increased cost OF
railroad fuel thereby occasioned is
also estimated at s6O,OO0,0OO per annum
The reduction of ten cents per ton on
all coal will, however, reduce the net
increased cost to the railroad from
sec. 100000 per anum to S45.0O0,OO0 per
annum Under the presidents plan
the railroads will furnish cars TO all
coal mines alike, without discrimina
ton, except as dictated by the prior re
qurements of the railroads for oper
ating purposes and the needs Of domes-
tic consumers and Of the war.
Under the present war demands, the
maximum output of every mine work
ing at full time would still be insuf-
ficient to meet the country's coal needs
The principle of equal car supply has
accordingly been adopted so as to make
for as steady an operation as posi-
BILE of all properties, and for continu-
Gus employment of men, thus making
for maximum output.
The introduction of the principle of
even car supply will reduce the gener
al average overhead of mine operation
thereby justifying the administration
4 in yaNytf iyrcy ntrf n v,rfra ndy
It is understood that the mine prices
thus fixed will remain undisturbed I'm
til the United States Fuel Administrf.
tor has before him the cost returns for
the twelve months ending August 81,
1918. The returns thus far are being
carefully studied by the fuel admin
istration accounts and engineers with
view to making the utmost saving
to the public that is consistent with
maximum production of coal.
Anthracite Not Affected.
The order will have no effect on the
price of anthracite coal. which forms
the bulk Of the domestic consumption
fuel IN the eastern part of the coun-
try
Consumers OF bituminous coal who
have already entered their orders for
the years coal supply. but whose coal
mas not yet been del1vered, VIII, o.
course, receive their supplies at the
reduced price. The new price applies
to all bituminous coal which left the
mines after seven a. m. May p, no
matter bow long the order for the de-
livery of the coal has been standing.
Coal delivered after seven a. m. May
2a under contracts which have been
entered into since December 30 1917
will be billed at the new price. Under
the regulation of the Fuel Adminstra
ton all such contracts call for the de-
livery of coal at the government price
effective at the time Of delivery