Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-01
E. c. FRAZER IN BUSINESS IN THIS
CITY FOR so YEARS-SOLD COAL AT
81 A TON HALF HUNDRED YEARS AGO

50 A TON HALF z
For over half q century engaged
in business in Rock Islandl
Such is the record of E. G. Fra
ger, II years old, active owner Of
tho Frazer Coal company, PHI
Twentieth street, who on Jan. 1
celebrated his golden business an
niversary in this city.
During his so years of CONNER
ciaI activity, Mr.. Frazer watched
Rock Island grow to its present
size from a town OF approximately
10 800 Inhabitants. He was one of
r. go who helped to build up the
CIty's business district from a few
scAgt ere8 buildings and trading
houses 10 It's present comparative
- co npEct form. In partnership
VIII. the late Frank BaIch. formerly
o. Rock Island, Mr.. Frazer began as
a dealer IN lime, cement and con-
structiOn materials, Jan. 1, 1869.
About five years later ths firm
included I'm It's business. IN addi-
tiou. the buying and selling of coal
Ten years after organization, the
paItnership was dissolved, Mr.,
BaIch selling out to his partner and
leaving the city. Alone, Mr.. Fra
ger managed the business for %
years., when he gave up dealing in
construction materials and supplies
and devoted himself exclusively to
selling coal.
During this time Mr.. Frazer oc-
cupied offices on three OF the four
sides of Spencer square. For Is
years he was located in a building
on Second avenue, since torn down
to make room for the erection of
the structure now housing tho
Spencer Square moving picture
theatre, on the north side OF the
square. He was next situated on
Third avenue on the south side Of
the park, his new office being IN
building especially constructed for
the purpose. 1t was the first bust
ness house to be erected IN the
block, between Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets. Following a
stay of 10 years at that location,
MIR. Frazer removed to his present
site on the east side OF the square,
where he has actively conducted
his coal business ever since.
MIR. Frazer handled coal when 1t
could be bought at the dealers
yards for 81 ton. and when for
an additional rs cents per ton 1t
would be delivered to any place in
Rock Island. At that time the ma
jority of the dealers handled east
ern fuel, from the mines of Penn
In IL
coal, finest OF anthracite, could be
delivered at the consumers door
for So a ton.
Coal Valley coal could be pur-
chased at the banks for Elk cents a
bushel or about $3.50 ton. Due
to q monopoly on coal in this vi
cinity, the small dealers here were
forced to seek their supply at Chi
cago and eastern markets. Anthra-
cite could be bought IN Chicago for
81 per ton. Freight was about 81
and an additional 81 covered the
cost of delivery and the Dealers
profit. making a retail selling price
of So ton.
Dealing In coal was not the bust
ness in Mr.. Frazer's early career
that It is now. Very little was
used in comparison with present
consumption, due to the fact that
wood was the principal fuel. Farm
ers at that time brought great loads
of cordwood into town and sold
them on the streets for whatever
price they would bring. And due
to the monopoly which denied coal
dealers the right to purchase coal,
first from the mines at Coal Valley
and later from those at Cable and
Sherrard, coal was hard to get.
Gradually as new fields were open
ed, however, especially those at
Matherville, Rock Island dealers
handicap.
Several winters more severe than
that of last year with its acute coal
shortage is recalled by Mr.. Frazer.
One in particular left an indelible
mark on his memory. Raging bliz-
yards throughout the middle west
accompanied by heavy snowfalis
caused the abandonment Of all
freight schedules from the east.
The tri-cities were practically des
titute of coal None could be Sc
cured. Chicago was in a similar
plight. Mr.. Frazer hurried to Chi
cago and found only one man who
could sell him coal. 1t was an
thracite, however, and its extra
large size made it totally unfit for
furnace or stove.
He took a chance and bought
six hundred tons. When his pur-
chase finally arrived here he gath
orad all tha mon and hOvs no cnl1ld
find and set them to work with
hammers and sledges breaking up
the Jumps so that they might be
used as fuel in furnace or stove.
Mr.. Frazer declares that as fast as
it could be made fit for use he dis
m