The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-14
'COAL MARKET
|. CONTINUES TO
Be VERY SOFT
Six Dollar Line Coal Sold
BY Some OPP
orators
.EyPORT PRICES OFF
Palmer Gratified at Effect
of Movement For Lower
Price Levels
'EyPORT PRICES OFF

There continues to be a soften
ing in the coal market today. This
is true OF both export and line
shipments. Quotations on line
shipments vary someN hat. but IL
is q fact that quite u numDer Of
operators who are III sympathy
with the government of the Fan
Practice committee arc selling
their coal at S. and have not been
taking any more In number oil
instances. Perhaps this Is not true
OF ali coal operators, but Is OF the
more conscientious ones and thosG
who believe that the former coal
prices were too high.
Export prices softened down on
the Monongahela railway today,
dropping TO $3.50 for pool. ,34,
which however, ran dollar
higher on the Baltimore and OHIO
Lake prices are soft, ranging
from $6 so and in few cases less
to 81. 1t was reported hero that
the domestic consumers along the
lake front are not buying coal
eagerly and that business Is dull.
Ono coal tradeEman says that coal
IN Cleveland was offered to him
~ SERi44 oEb- u he coa4 -froLo ETsesF
ern PennsylYauIa and other fields
appear 10 be selling at prices
lower than In this region.
The prolonged good car supply
Of the past week or more perhaps
is more responsible for lower
priced coal than any other condt-
lton tust at this time, although
government agitation is also an
important factor.
Palmer Satisfied
patches from New York city.
where the fair practice committee
Of Northern West Virginia was IN
session on Wednesday that At
Corney General A. Mitchell Pal
mer Is satisfied that the coal oper-
ators in this section OF the state
are endeayOring to force down the
price OF coal.
A telegram sent to tho commit
tee by Mr.. Palmer is quoted as
follows:
referring to your report as
chairman OF committee OF bitu-
minous coal operators from the
northern district Of West Virginia
that prices Of bituminous coal de-
livered in that district have been
recently substantially reduced
through the efforts of your com.
mIttee. This is gratifying but does
not afford relief to the rest of the
country. 1t ia Of the highest i'm
portanoo chat the NeduAton lin
prices thus begun should be ex.
tended so as to include operations
in other districts and coal for de-
livery throughout the country. |
am extremely desiTOus that such
action shall be taken by yourself
and other operators throughout
the country as will bN TO the best
interests Of the country and will
tighten the work OF tho Depart
ment OF Justice by reducing the
number OF prosecutions to be in
Rtituted for violation OF the Lever
act in charging unreasonable
prices. -
The following reply was made
to this telegram:
your telegram this date refer
ing to report OF the Fair Practices
committee OF Northern West Vir.
ginia coal operators received. Our
committee will Immediately exert
every effort possible TO follow
your suggestions
During the last two weeks this
committee has exerted every eff
fort practicable to determine
prices being received by Northern
West Virginia operators for coal
deliveries within the state. Data
received indicates a maximum
price for such shipments of So a
ton with a range Of from 81. so to
Sc. 90. The committee wishes all
operators to individually follow
the policy of the past two weeks
of the evident majority of opera
tors in Northern West Virginia to
such an extent as the telegram
from Attorney General Palmer
suggests as 1t feels such action
will be necessary to accom- Dlish
the objects required by the de-
partment.
Circular letters have been mail
ed to all operators Of Northern
West Virginia covering the stu.
alton in detail. The Fair Practices
committee invites complaints OF
any character from consumers OF
coal mined in Northern West Vir-
ginia and will exert its best of.
forts to meet any situation pres
ented TO IT.
Daily Car Supply.
There are 1913 empties on the
Monongah division OF the Balu-
more and Ohio railroad today and
the early morning placement is
s44. ThIrty-seven mines are idle.
The cars today are classified as fol-
lows: Open, 924; coke, 50; BMIX.
CONTINUED on Page EiEhrl
q.