The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-08
COAL EXPORTS
CONTINUED Prom FIRST Page.)

Producers desiring t. export runl tn the
allied countries must show that ship
ncntS are TO he used for war purposes
and must give TO the War Trade board
the names In every instance If the final
cnnSlguccS.
The arrangement WAS worked out TO-
day ut conference between Fuel ad-
ADMINISTRATION. state department and war
trade board officials. The war hoard
now In control of all rXp"rts and inn
ports. will use coal To trad" with neutral
nations. pa- i"ul"riy 'LusA In --.,,atiG>
America, Tor goods IN" United States
needs IN prosecution If the war. Brit
sh coal shipments to South America
have been used for this purpose for
some time.
. Prices nf expert coal. although sl.@5
a TON higher thnn domestic prices. still
are lower than the prices obtaining in
other export countries.
Diversion of lifiv cars uf coal for re-
lief of rovtngtnn. Newport. Dayton and
Fort Thomas. KY. WAS ordered today
by the fuel administration.
ThorneS Revelations.
WASHl%GTON. Ian. 1.-l'r"tits nj
many coal operators in III" middle west
were materially Increased BY coal prices
fixed by tho government. the. senate in
rFStigatinE committee was told today by
clifford Thurnr. who said h.. had made
exhaustive study of the situation. and
David i. Wing. an examiner If the f"Il-
cral trade commission.
Much Of the Shur,AGe Of roal now en-
p"rlrnrrd over thu country was at
trihutcd by Thnruc IL excessive ship
mrntS 10 the northwest. tho "tcmp;a-
tinn Of operators In hold back for higher
prices" greatly Increased consumption.
intcrfrrcncr with distribution through
natural channels. and an inadequate car
supply.
Relief. the witness said, ran he
brought about only through two courses
--guvrrnmrnt operation nf the mines or
purchase III the entire output Of the
country. If neither IS rrSUrlcd 10. lower
prices could be made possible. he said,
by the government buying the product
OF small mines in which production costs
are high.
Would Close Small Mines.
referring to II recent announcement
by tn" fuel administration On profits 10
he allowed for new mines, Mr.. Thornc
said. he did not believe ii wise 10 try
to increase production by opening new
mines or working those that have been
idle. ny tho high production costs in such
To consumers. He thought 1t would be
better Ia close many small mines now
operating at high cost.
ThOrnr tulG the committee the public
had not had proper representation in the
matter nf price fixing. and that in grncr-
Al. aud i'll the Illinois fields in particular,
prices allowed were much 10" high. He
said that although contracts made be-
fore the price liking would have been
profitable. many operators declined To
MI them, making dnliveri,.S IN most IN
stances only - government prices. This
WAS DONE. he said. despite the fact tlInt
that contracts then IL force should not
he affected.
Getting High Prices.
In the Illinois fields some operators.
the witness asserted. arr receiving un-
der government prices 100 per cent
more than IN 1916. when prices wcr"
considered high. lie also declared there
ar" wide prir" discrepancies in dcIiv-
cries now being made and. as An illus
;rntinu. said the government was having
delivered 1T Camp Dodge. Iowa. lou tons
daily at - prir" 80 per cent. higher than
the chicago. Burlington IL Quincy Rail-
road Is paying for similar coal from tho
sam" operator.
Examiner Wing was called 10 show
the difference between production costs
at several mines and the prices the gov
"runicnt allowed. hut did not have conf
plcIr data and will b. further examined
later.