The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-19
.R.R. PURCHASING
AGENTS SUGGEST.
PRICE REVISION
Operators Stirred Up oyer
Reports Being Circua-
ted in Region
MATsTART|AVEgIGAT|Ol
Are Anxious y5 Find Out
Who is Responsible for
. Practice. .,.a
.MAYSTARTINVEaIGAT|0R

Stories going the rounds in the re.
gion this morning, if they have any
basis in fact, would indicate that some
of the railroad purchasing agents have
been attempting sharp practice in an
effort to demoralize the coal marke:
and cut quotations for fuel.
The report that was most frequently
repeated and which seems to have the
most substantial background runs to
the effect that recently operators whe
have submitted bids for fuel orders
have received kilograms from the pur.
chasing agents strongly intimating
that it would be good thing for tho
operator to revise his figures-the in
ference being strong that il he wanted
the business he would have to revise
the bid downward.
There is. OF Course, no means OF
knowing right now how high up in the
Railroad administration responsible
ity for such brow beating extends but
1t is altogether probable that an inves-
tigation will be undertaken with view
Of letting the public know just what is
going on under cover In this railroad
fuel business. II the practice is at all
general the assistance OF the National
Coal association will be invoked.
One Of he most significant features
OF the fuel situation is that in spite
Of the fact that the Railroad admins.
tration. or at least its agents. has done
Its best to buy coal at lower prices it
has not succeeded except here and
there in quantities that are so small
that they have no influence whatever
upon the situation as a whole. Opera
tors and mine workers are anxious to
get the miners running but they do
not want to take business at a figure
which does not yield fair return for
both sides.
3. & o. Takes Jump.
Railroad fuel loaded yesterday on
the Monongah division of the Balti,
more & Ohio railroad totaled 214
loads. The most interesting feature
was the fact that the B. G o. tonnage
jumped to 11S cars. This is the larg-
est order since mid-winter. The near.
est approach in the new coal year was
April 4, when 10S loads were secured.
On February 20 LOG lads were got and
on March 15. 102 were purchased.
Central Of New Jersey was firm at
seven cars yesterday as was Cumber.
land Valley with four loads. Lehigh
Valley ordered IA loads, just one car
shy OF its biggest order of the present
coal year. New York, New Haven &
Hartford secured 81 loads, an increase
of three cars over the previous day.
P. & r. ordered "a cars, fourteen cars
less than on Thursday. New York Cen
tral placed no order yesterday.
Consignments were as follows: B.
! & o., 11S; c. OF j., Z; Cumberland Val.
| ley, 4; Lehigh Valley, IA: New York.
New Haven and Hortford, 81; p. e.
R., "a.
Rates to the Lakes.
Announcement was made in Wash
ington, D. c., last evening by the ship
ping board as to the rate on coal,
which will be effective during the com.
ing lake season.. There has been a
slight reduction. This means much
toward stabilizing he prices so that
the rates will not vary from the time
F; the season opens until it closes.
Tho rate of 421s cents per ton has
been approved as the rate to the head
of Lake Superior, the principal ports
being Duluth and Superior. This is
against As cents a ton last year. The
rate to Lake Michigan will be so cents
a ton this year against 55 cents last
year.
If differentials can be equaled up it
will greatly assist the lake shipment
in the Fairmont region. This prob
ably will be to the extent of even from
100000 to 100000 additional tone.
With the veil of uncertainty on it is
! difficult to predict what the lake ton.
mage will be from the Yairmont region
this year, but operStors are hoping
Continued on pase four'