Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07

Continued from First Page.)
| able the organization to carry on prop
erly the big civic duties which devoive
upon it.
The Piney Branch Association asked
the federation to inquire into the ade-
quacy of police protection in that sec
ton.
White Ash Coal Prices.
The committee reported that the
lowest mine price it could find on
/ white ash stove, one of the most
popular domestic sizes. was $7.85 per
gross ton. This figure was taken
from the invoices of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany. said by the committee to be
the largest shipper of anthracite into
this section.
The committee reported that other
dealers who depend on so-called in
dependent operators for their sup
plies are paying from So to $9.45
+. o. b. mines.
The spot price of this COAL" the
report continued. has been as high
as from $3.50 to SIS per ton at the
mines. Inquiry, however, developed
the fact thta our local dealers have
been keeping out of the spot market
to discourage such prices. The high
L
and Reading Coal and Iron Company
prices being paid by a local dealer
was $3.50, or $10.36 per ton f. o. b.
mines.
Two Typical Cases.
Two typical cases taken direct from
the invoices. freight bills. and books Of
the dealers show the principal factors
making up the retail price.
"(a) White ash stove coal -s7.s5.
I O. ieyrf ND
$685.. retailers gross margin; retail
price, $15.15.
THE retail gross margin fixed by the
late United States Fuel Administration
FOR the District of Columbia was 81 rs
per ton, and represented about 27 per
cent; The margin given above is figured
at about "a per cent. This dealer han
dies fuel exclusively.
"(b) White ash stove coal-$9, f. o. b.
mines; 1918. freight and war tax; $275,
retailers gross margin; retail price,
$3.50.
Engaged In Other Lines.
This dealer is engaged in other lines
OF business involving hauling, and the
coal business is rather a side line and
so-called filler
AS to bituminous coal, we learned
that dealers had only been able to con-
tract for about so per cent of their last
years tonnage, at prices ranging from
I'D ~ 20 per net ton t2,uOu loS.), most
contracts being for about $475 Spot
bituminous. always of the lower grades,
has been ranging from 81 to $14 per net
ton, I. o. b. mines; gross tons are II per
cent higher.
Retail prices of bituminous coal range
from $ll.1O to $ll.50 per gross ton (2.240
lbs). Retail price is made up as fol-
loys-$4.75 net ton: $5.22 gross ton,
f. o. b. mines: So. 2S, freight and war tax:
$2.15, retailers gross margin; retail
price. SLIPS.
THE prices quoted by the govern
ment fuel yard on coal they are fur
nishing the federal and District gov
ernments, with the exception Of the
Washington navy yard. is Of interest,
but for a number Of reasons is not
susceptible to fair comparison with
the prices quoted by the retail deal
ers.
Delivery Mt Curb.
These prices, which are for gross
ton delivery at the curb. follow:
$3.50, bituminous; $12.34 egg and
furnace: $12.5s. stove; $12.6s. nut, and
$1,000. pea.
The government fuel yards nav
for bituminuos coal-$5.3o gross ton
+. o. b. mines; 1918. freight: s1.10.
handling charge; $3.50, delivery price.
The government fuel yards price
on anthracite white ash stove isl
$785 gross ton. fob. mines; 1854,
freight; $1.10. handling charge; $l2.59,
delivery price.
Observation Made.
In conclusion, the committee made
the following observations:
There seems to be little. If any,
profteering by local coal merchants.
In the typical case cited for white
ash stove coal, the dealer, through
very fortunate connection with an |
operator. was able to buy his coal at
$7.s5. whereas most other dealers
were compelled to pay from $500 to
$3.50 for the same grade of coal. The
freight and war tax cannot be re-
duced. The gross profit of 1855 on |
the consignment with which the COM
moittee dealt is somewhat in excess
of that which would be received by |
most dealers, but is not believed to beJ