The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1919-09-08

the Fuel Administration We're re-
moved on February l. 1919. the bet
ter. more desirable Goals went to a
premium IN ths open competitive
market and the less desirable Goals
declined IN price He stated that
this was the action TO be expected in
market where the huyer exercises
his ci1oice and can obtain the kind he
prefers. As d result instead Of the
uniform prices in different districts.
which were fixed by the U. S. Fuel
Administration. prices promptly
spread out. some coal going higher
and some lower than they had been.
The charts submitted tc the COM
niltee showed that in districts pro-
ssucinE high qualify Goals. such as
Pittsburgh, Southern Illinois. the
Harlan Field Of Kentucky. etc.
prices had remained al about the
level set BY the Fuel Administration.
or had advanced a few cents above
that level. la most districts. hvw-
ever, such as Central Pennsylvania.
Northwest PENNSYLVANIA. Eastern
Ohio, Central Illinois, the Hazard
field Of Kentucky. Northern West
sA kiutos ctN.s N&ks NAVltVW so1Ue eVdic
OF lower grade are prcduccd. In
such districts. nrices declined from
10 cents to 40 cents per ton below
the prices which prevailed under the
U. s. Fuel Administration
Cost Increases.
Meantime. Mr.. Morrow said.
"the cost Of producing hitumincus
coal is higher now than il was a
year agp. Que TO- the fact that the
mines then we're operating SIX days
a week and in many eases are now
operating only four days per week
and some cases only three days
week. The overhead expense Of
maintaining mines gors on lust The
same whether Goa: IS produced or
not. These IDLE day expenses have
resulted In increased costs per ton. rs
compared with last year. When
these increased costs are considered
in connection with the general de-
crease in prices, it is clear that
profits Of bituminous coal operators
are materially less than q year ago"
Mr.. Morrow drew comparisons be-
tween the prices of bituminous cc:.ls
at the mines ir the United States
and foreign countries.
prices at the mines In Gres:
Britain" he said. Carr about three
times the mine prices prevalent in
the United States; in France the
mine prices are more than three and
half times those Of the United
States. English minc prices range
from s ~ to S7.l4 per ton, while
bituminous coal in France is costing
about $6.76 per ton at the mines.
The average mine price of bitums-
nous ccai sold in the United States is
in the peixhborhood Of s2.l0 per
ton"
EJECT cf Car Shortage.
The effect of car shortage upon
coal production was testified to by
John Caiahan. Tra0ic Manager Of
the National Coal Association.
Scar shortages caused the coal
fnines to fail to produce $500. 900
tons OF coal during the weeks ending
August 2 and August 81" Mr.. Calla-
han said. This is sufficient coal TO
S2pply the requirements of the state
Of New Jersey for ten months
The difficulty today Is trans
pcrtation deficiency and not = car
shortage alone. Coal is one Of the
few conmodities which can not wit
on transportst IL IS physically
impossible in many instances, to
bring coal to the surface Of the earth
and store it for the reason that the
pit mouth is on the side Of noun
tain or hill
Moreover. the proper place to
store coal is at the point OF con-
sumption. where " will be available
when rsQvirsd fpE pss. RaiIEeel