The Washington herald., 1920-11-14
THIS WINTERS
HARD COAL TO
RISET0$17.75
Washington Increase Blam-
ed to Conditions Of the
Open Market.
DEALERS IN QUANDARY
Government Fuel Yards En-
Joy Advantage Accord
ing to Investigation.

Washington consumers Will pay at
least s17.75 a ton for anthracite coal
this winter according to informa-
tion just received by the special
committee to investigate the District
fuel situation appointed by President
w. B. westlake of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, 1t was stated
yesterday.
Washington dealers are as help
less in keeping down prices as the
consumer. according to Jesse Suter,
chairman Of the committee, being
forced to buy in the open market at
almost prohibitive prices or refuse
to supply their customers
At the same time the government
fuel yards of the Bureau OF Mines,
according to a statement issued yes
terday have, during the last month,
found IL possible to purchase BIZ
luminous coal for government use at
$3.50. For the same coal the pri-
vate consumer has been paying
around $40.
That the government fuel yards
enjoy a distinct advantage is H.
Illustrated by the fact that the War
Department, during the same period,
was forced to pay S12.32 per gross
ton at the mines. This coal was for
delivery to army posts throughout
the East and freight and other ex-
penses added to the drst cost would
eventually make the total cost far
In excess Of that paid by the Bu-
reau of Mines.
In the statement of the Bureau of
Mines, George S. Pope. chief en-
gineer of the bureau. declares that
the advantageous price was secured
through the courtesy of the Ma
tional Coal Association.
The above report and past obser-
yations of the actual working Of
the Government Fuel Yards which
were insugurated about two years
ago. indicate. according to Suter.
that the bituminous operators who
are members of the association
have striven to curry favor with
the government fuel yards at the
expense ef the local consumers.
Loss to Local Dealers
Loca dealers. according to Suter.
have lost. rather than gained by the
installation Of the Government Fuel
Yards, since before their establish
ment they were able to supply the
Government with coal. They were
thus enabled TO tide over periods of
dullness in the local market. The
private consumer benefited in the
end.
That the coal situation is grave
throughout the East is evidenced by
dispatches just received from Bal
timore which declare the coal situ-
alton in that city the worst of any
winter since 1902. The prediction is
made that the Baltimoreans will
pay at least $50 a ton
The cause of general conditions
Is placed principally at the mines
rather than as the fault of the local
dealers Local dealers, it is found,
have been unable to contract more
than SO per cent of the tonnage
they handled last year. This means
that they were forced to buy in the
open markets, and the consumer
pays more in the end.
Cause of Upward Trend.
An analysis. CLEANED from infor-
nation from various sources shows
that the present upward trend Of the
price of coal is to a large extent due
to the practice of operators to place
their coal on the open market, ig-
noring contracts and allowing bid
ding for IL, selling to the highest
bidder. ompetitive bidding by cities
and towns has also raised the price
of coal at the mines.
Miners and operators are reported
as showing preference to the cities
and towns of the Western and
Northwestern States in coal deliv-
cries. This Is excused and justified
by them in a statement that Wash
ington and other cities nearer the
mines could be supplied with coal
on short notice.
The present average work of coal
miners is two days 2 week. This
according to one local dealer. has
caused this years production of coal
to fall behind at least 100000 tons
The last strike continuing three
weeks, came when cities and towns
were laying in their winter supply.
Another reason given is the demor-
alization of railroad equipment and
facilities by government ownership