Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-04
MAXIMUM PRICE
MARGIN ON COAL
MORE Than S1.95
mack Island County Fuel Board Will
Set Price Over the sa Mark,
h 1t Is Announced.
INCREASE DAVENPORT FIGURE
Lsesl Body Meets With Scott County
and Learns 1t Set Quotation Too
/ Low For Dealer.

! The maximum price margin to be
allowed coal dealers in Rock Island
county will be more than s1.95 a ton.
This was virtually decided upon
xhen the Rock Island county fuel
commission met with the Scott county
h,dv Of Davenport at the Rock Island
s,nb Yesterday and heard from the
Inns of the Davenporters that the
margin of s1.95 it had allowed coal
dealers in the city across the river
Vas so narrow as to compel some of
the retailers to suspend business.
The maximum price margin Is the
6rure the dealers may charge for
coal over the price of the fuel arrived
IA the railroad yards. In other words,
me margin must cover all expenses Of
handling from coal car to the con-
sumer's bin and the profit as we'll. The
davenport fuel board told the local
committee that 1t intended raising the
maximum price in order to encourage
those dealers who had suspended bust
ness to return to retailing fuel again
as SO many had gone out in Daven-
mort that shortage is feared.
1t was pointed out at the meeting
that Rock Island and Moline as we'll
AZ Davenport are unusually situated.
in that they have their railroad tracks
on one edge of the city and hills ex-
tending back from the track. The in
>clines increase the cost of delivery.
The situation in the tri-cities was also
PAINTED as different from elsewhere in
view of the fact that common labor is
scarce and high priced as result Of
activity at the arsenal.
Is Thankless Job.
Just exactly what figure the local
coal commission will set as the max
inum price margin has not been de-
cided upon as yet, but it was definite
II announced by II. A. Clevenstine,
chairman of the commission, that the
sum would be more than $1.95 ton.
III 1t wasn't for the fact that this
country is at war I wouldn't have the
Job for any price" he said. "But we
have to make sacrifices in times like
this. You see, we have two groups to
satisfy, the public on one hand and the
coal dealers on the other. We have
got to arrive at low maximum mar
{ gin price or the public will accuse us
of playing into the hands Of the coal
dealers. On the other hand we have
got to allow the dealers fair margin
Of profit or they will suspend bust
ness.
"The government has shown its at
ttude with the mine operators. Three
times, in some fields, has the govern
Nent raised the price which the min
ers may charge for coal"
Meet Retailers.
T Following the meeting with the
members of the Davenport commits
sion. the local body met a committee
of the retail coal dealers. The COM
mittee which was selected by the re-
tailers of the county is composed OF
two men from Rock Island, two from
Moline and one from the country
They are authorized to confer with
the commission as representatives OF
the dealers. eliminating the irksome
Procedure of calling the entire list OF
dealers in for conferences. The deal
ers' committee is composed of Neal
Mikesell and r. W. Lamont of Rock
Island; James Pearson and Frank
Walker Of Moline and Frank Schaeffe1
Of Port Byron.