New-York tribune., 1920-10-14
No Winter Coal
Famine i'm East.
Say Operators
Col. ID. B. Wentz, President
of Association, Declares
Cars for the Bituminous
Output Are Promised
$4,000, 900 Tons a Week
Asserts Soft Coal Miners Can
Supply N. Y. Market in
the Anthracite Shortage

commence lnat no serious shortage
of bituminous coal will develop in the
East this winter was expressed =
terday by Colonel D. B. Wentz, presi-
dent Of the National Coal Association
at a meeting of the directors of that
organization in the Waldorf
Colonel Vent said ths railroad
companies had promised sufficient cars
to permit the shipment of 100000
tons week from the bituminous dis
trict and that uni the transporta-
tion companies fell far short Of that
agreement the Atlantic Coast would be
amply supplied. In the event of a
serious anthracite shortage in New
York, he said, a considerable tonnage
of bituminous coal might be diverted
to this market to tide over the crisis.
Coal operators attending the ses-
sion, at which was represented two
thirds Of the total bituminoiis output
Of the country, were unanimous in
condeMning the reconsienment and
and said they believed the elimination
=
toward relieving the shortage of
anthracite and the epidemic Of high
prices in that commodity from which
New York is suffering.
Say Palmer -Iindered Relief
ny of the operators at the meet
ing made no secret of their conviction
that Attorney General Palmer has
been Gerclict in his duty in falling to
curtail the speculative practice some
months ago. Some said the Office of
the Attorney General had been an
actual hindrance when every effort
was being ade to relieve previous
fuel shortages.
Evidence that gangs of spectators
have used cars that should have been
available to Industrial markets for the
purpose of raising the price of coal
has been developed at bearings before
Senator William NJ. Caldel's commit
tee on reconstruction and production.
The committee is still investigating
the pract ce and has promised further
disclosures conc rning outrageous
profteering.
While coal operators attending the
national associations session cx-
pressed the belief that the practice Of
reconsignment has been LARGELY cradi-
Gated. they said they are getting at
this time only % to 30 per cent Of
the open cars needed to TRANSPORT
their production. Additional cars
however, have been allotted them, and
the situation, so far as it concerns
bitumlnous coal, is expected to adjust
itself shortly
Dealers Continue to Complain
New York dealers who handle prin-
|,
Plain that no coal for their customers
Is available at fair prices. and but
little at the prodteering price, which
varies froL. Sl3 to SIC at the mines.
Coal purchased at the latter figure. it
was explained, must be retaled around
$50 ton or entail loss upon the
dealer.
Whatever measures arc being taken
by the government to insure an ample
diversion of anthracite 20 the New
York market before winter are being
directed from Washington, it was said
here. While apprehensiye that the situ-
alton might become acute unless I'M
mediate steps are taken to relieve the
shortage, dealers mostly were of the
orlnion that am improvement would be
felt by the end Of November.
There is an undeniablc and very
acute shortage of coal at this time" "
SAID one dealer. "and any setback to
the tonnage shipment might entail
senous results. Already customers are
becoming apprehensivc and are clamor-
ing Tor coal which we are unable to
set. Some dcalcrs, in order to supplv
TIER wants, have purchased coal at
eXorbltant prices from independent
miners, and upon retailing it at price
that lets them ont without a loss have
hccn themselves accused of profiteer-
ing.
Anthracite Brings Any Price
Many independent mines lies DOR
mant during normal coal markets, and
open up to reap a rich harvest ONLY
when serious shortage has developed
There Is considerable competitive INV
ing from the mines right now and 81
cargo OF anthracite may bring almost
any price. Premiums are being paid hv
iorelgn buyers and this practice has
had a disorganizing effect on the mar
ket.'
F. w. Saward, editor Of one Of tho
leading coal trade publications of the
country, said yesterday one reason fo,
the shortage is the failure of the coal
production to keep pace with the in
crease IN population of the industrial
centcrs.
Other coal authorities said portion
OF the blame for light production an
doubtedly rested upon the CLIQUE OF
operators and wholesalers who have
been forcing the price of anthracite
to famine levels.
Whatever the effect of the specula-
tors may have been on the situation
their power Will be short lived in the
coai industry if the avowed antipathy
OF nearly every organization in the
trade proves availing. Most Of the as
Socia'ions INTO which coal dealers are
operators have banded themselves are
now on record as being opposed tc
more than one transaction involving .
single cargo. In the past, it is said, .