The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-09
SCHEDULE OF
 COAL PRICES
 IS DISCUSSED
Thomas W. Russell Ex- presses Confidence in
 Supply Situation.
FREIGHT RATES CAUSE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE
Will See That All Dealers Obtain About the Same
 Ratio of Profit.

Hartford, May 9-How the price of coal is fixed for the different communities of the state and some of the complicating features of this war time regulation, were discussed today by Thomas W. Russell, federal fuel administrator for Connecticut. In the course of the interview he took the opportunity to express confidence that there will be an adequate supply of anthracite coal to supply the win ter needs of all those who wish to secure their coal in advance of the cold weather.
 Describing the methods of price fixing, Mir Russell said: ''We secure report from the local fuel commits sion giving the retailers closest pos sible cost of doing business in that To- cality and recommending a retail price estimated on the cost of doing business. Inasmuch as freight rates in this state vary as much as fifty cents from the mines to different cit ies and the average cost of teaming coal varies in different communities 1 it is our practice to check up recom- mendations furnished by the local | fuel committee and in whatever few cases necessary change the figures recommended by themi
 ''It is our purpose as far as possi- ble to see that the profits per ton realized by the retail dealers are about the same in one locality as an- other. The prices in the larger cities are figured by assuring a net profit above all expenses of between 30 and 40 cents ton, which does not seem 1 to us excessive.
 'NThe situation is still further com plicated in a number of cities on Long Island Sound which receive nearly 1 their entire coal supply from barges which tow the coal from New York piers. A number of these cities man. ifest natural surprise and curiosity at the announcement of new prices because in many cases it has been necessary to make the new prices higher than the existing prices.
 ''The reason for this is the material increase made in towing rates. New Haven is paying a towing rate of 75 cents as against 58 cents paid last year. New London's rate is $1.25 compared to a previous rate of 75 cents. In addition to the increase in towing rates there has been a very large increase in demurrage rates which are considerably more than doubled. It is my personal belief that some rates especially the demur- rage rates are higher than necessary" Replying to a question regarding the delivery of anthracite coal in this state, the fuel administrator explained that the entire oversight of distribut- ing anthracite coal had been delegat- ed by Dr. Garfield, the federal fuel administrator to so-called Fuel Ad- ministration Anthracite Committee consisting oe three of the largest an- thracite operators in the business. Their plan is to allot to each town and city definite amount of coal based as far as possible on the popu- lation of that locality and they have undertaken to see that the amount of coal allotted is received by each con- munity.
 i ''Under these circumstances,'' said MT. Russell, q am confident before winter each community in Connecti- cut will receive an adequate supply through it's retail dealers in spite of the temporary delays in some locali- ties. As it happens a number of communities did not receive as much coal last month as they were entitled to. This was due to temporary con- ditions like the railroad embargo. I am confident that the shortage in any given locality will be made up be- fore winter. I am hopeful that be- fore the winter season we will have a fair supply of anthracite in the cellars of everyone willing to accumulate a supply in advance.