Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-01
DROP IN PRICES
OF COAL Is NEAR
Lower Level Expected as
Government Discontinues
Its Control
GREAT PILES OF FUEL
CIut in Pennsylvania Fields.
Some Collieries Close
Down
GREAT PILES OF FUEL
By the Associated Press

Reading, Pa. Feb. Goal prices
are likely TO fall In the near future
conslgnees of large quantities OF fuel
said to.ay after a survey or the
fuel are being stored at IandinEville
and Abrams by the Reading Company.
there being little demand.
There is a glut OF pea coal all over
this section and dealers are not buying.
All are trying to unload as fast as
possible before the winter ends and the
bottom drops out OF prices. There is
no car shortage at the mines. but the
dependents in the upper anthracite re
zion are on short time, but the Reading
Company has as yet issued no orders for
curtailment at its mncs'
PottsviIle. Pa. Feb. 1.--(By \. P)-
The first break in the coal trade came
today after the collieries OF the anthra-
cite field had worked almost continuously
for more than three years when num-
Der of the independent companies closed
their collieries for periods ranging from
one 10 six DAYS. The reasons assigned
by the heads OF the companies were lack
OF orders and an effort TO make needed
repairs while the opportunity was af-
forded
company, Buck Run. Dariiwater and
oak Hill operations were closed. while
north of the mountain five collieries OF
the Madeira Hill company were closed.
has been discontinued. NO announce
ment has been made by the Reading,
Lehgh or Lehigh Coal ana Navigation
companies
HazIeton, Pa. Feb. t.--(By A. PD--
For the first time In two years curtail-
ment was ordered today at anthracite
coal mines of the Lehigh field.
This action was taken because or
stagnatlon Of the trade, due principally
to the mild winter weather The Upper
Iehieh and IIazlebrook collieries OF the
]. s. Wentz Company and the Beaver
brook operations of the G. NJ. Dodson
Company were idle. The Lehigh Valley
Coal Company has put some OF its mines
on a seven.hour day and suspended work
at washeres Storage of anthracite has
begun.
Washington, Feb. 1.--(By A. P)--
The administration today discontinued
all price control and much of the SUPER
vision over distribution of coal, coke,
oil and natural gas under an order
signed by Administrator Garfield.
With the passing of control over fuel
most of the activities of the fuel admin
istrator ceased. The administration
however, under the Lever act, cannot
disband until peace has been declared
Some coal men said today that cessa-
tion of control over prices on coal would
result in a lowering OF prices. The un-
usually mild winter. It was said, also
would tend to lower prices. Others pre-
dlcted. little change In price levels.
The blanket order makes three excep-
--tions. The restrictions which remain
IN force are:
Those requiring that contracts be
made subject to- maximum prices If re-
instated, subject to cancellation by the
fuel administration and subject to re-
QUESTION or diversion of coal by the
fuel administration.
Those prohibiting reconsignments OF
coal.
Those requiring shipment Of cCal tc
tidewater to go through the Tidewatei
Coal Exchange.
The tidewater and reconslgnment
regulations were retained at the request
of the railroad administration. to avoid
congestion Of coal at tidewater and
the resultant embargCes