The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-10-18
Dealers Are
Also Ready
To Strike
Calumet Region Coal Deal
ers do not Propose to Lose
Money in Business

AhhouACement tate saturday Prom
Indianapolis Of the decision of the
state food and coal commission TO
modify some of the terms OF its order
fixing the dealers handling margin en-
coal probably aycrted coal dealers
strike in the Calumet region
Such a move was being contemplated
by the dealers who say they would lose
from Atty to sevcnty-five cents on
every ton they delivered under the or
der. House holders. only fifty per cent
OF whom have their winter coal sup
ply. viii await with interest the new
ruling of The commission which is ex-
pected early this week Even then it
is not believed that the long expected
lower coal prices viii come in time TO
benefit the consumer this season.
When the Calumet region dealers pro
tested against the price before the
commission, figures showing costs eff
handling coal were submitted from
different cities. Among them was tho
firm of J. J. Ddbos & Son of hammond.
The gross operating costs of this firm
per ton of coal handled were given as
follows: July. S3c4i August, sa9I:|
September. S3.45 In commenting on
the commissions order and the diff
Guilty in getting contract coal today.
Mr.. Dibos said:
In the month Of April of this year
the coal operators of the Southern Ill
lnois fields. meaning Franklin county.
Carterville and Harrisburg coal district
came to the retailer and offered con
tracts at a very reasonable figure and
many of the retailers placed contracts
on this coal which for the last few
years has been the standard coal for
this district. The operators gave the
dealer 10 understand that they (the
oRerators) were only contracting up
about forty per cent OF their expected
output Of coal for the coming coal year.
April TO April. If the retailer had re-
ceived 100 per cent of his contract on
these Goals there would have been no
high priced coal 70 the consumer. but
in most cases the retailer received only
25 TO 33 per cent of the coal contracted
for forcing him to go on the open
market for the most of his coal. This
meant and stu at this date means.
coal from $500 to $3.50. this price at
the mines. Government statistics show
that 100000 tons more Of hituminous
coal were mined up to October 1st of
this year than was mined in the same
period last year Where does the re-
taifers extra IS per cent of contract
coal go?
You can buy all or the so-carod
spot market coal at $3.50 and $500
you want today and you could at any
time during the summer but just try
and squeeze a car Of contract tIow prize
ed) coal out of a shipper
The state coal and food commission
at indianapolis has set the mine price
on domestic coal or prepared coal 1t
$500 at the mine. but dealer cannot
buy a pound Of Indiana coal since the
new order went into effect. We have
at this date two cars of Indiana coal in
stock that was shipped after the new
order went into effect but was bought
before. that cost him $3.50 at the time
The shippers explanation for the high
price is that this coal while it is in
transit 70 Hammond. at some place or
other goes over into Illinois making it
interstate business. over which the
state commission has no control.
The state coal and food commission
has also set the price on which re-
taller in the state is expected TO do
business. This price or margin Is S2.25. (
This margin of S2.25 covers n multitude
of sins but 1t does not cover By so
fCNnIlQned mage rNpA