The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17
COAL STILL SHORT
Fuel Situation Like Pounding
Sand in Rat Hole.
Dealers Cannot Accumulate Any
Reserve Supplies.
DEMAND EQUALS THE SUPPLY
Local Consumers Are Being
Charged II Per Cent Hike.
Dealers Fear They'll Be Left
Holding Sack.
DEMAND EQUALS THE SUPPLY

Like pounding sand in a rat hole"
IS phrase that now applies to the
coal situation in Topeka, according to
local dealers
little supply ahead in their yards are
rruitless- they declare Every pound
OF coal that comes into the city is sold
out almost before IL can be unlcaded-
The coal yards of the city today are
practically as bare as they were dur
I ing the coal strike.
This does not mean that the de-
mand is abnormal or the supply sub
normal. the dealers say. During the
miner a sufficient reserve is usually
laid in to last all winter. But the re-
cent coal strike exhausted this re-
serve and now. as in normal times. the
supply is only about equal TO the de-
mand-
Scarcity Vow Permanent
The public is still urged to econo-
mize in the use Of fuel which, it is
promised will remain scarce thruout
the remainder of the winter The
backset production suffered during the
nation wide strike was too pronounced
10 be overcome at once. 1t IS de-
clared even now that severe and pro-
longed cold spell would cause incon-
venience and perhaps suffering in To-
peka again. Coal is now being sold to
domestic consumers in lots Of from
oTre-half ton to two tons. ManuIac-
have a fair supply on hand but they
are not beyond the danger mark in
the event of extra ordinary conditions
Probably the biggest seller in the
way OF coal Is that from southern
Kansas The demand for Arkansas
Bernice is greater than the supply
Shipments Of Colorado nut are slow.
but the demand is heavy and large
amount is being sold. Illinois lump
and Illinois egg are two more popular
varieties Of coal.
Like Scrambled Eggs.
Shipments from the Usage and Bur
liugame mines appear TO be slow ana
conditions there are extremely con-
fused. In fact. the coal situation
thruout the country. dealers say. bears
some resemblance to a large plate OF
scrambled eggs in point of orderh-
ness No one seems to know for sure
whether. the IA per cent increase viii
be allowed the operators or not As
a result some are taking it anyway,
and some are not Most are playing
the game safe by invoicing the coal
to dealers at the old price. subject TO
a raise later il permissible.
The retail dealer. finding himself
holding the sack. has in many cases
so1-~ht to pass It on To the consumer
tv gnueXing the possible raise to tpe
re 81 price
This is done as measure OF self
dc -e1se- The 0perator'- II tater a.
lo-ved the privilege Of collecting the
II per cent. can make the proposition
retroactive The dealer. doing bust
ness at the old stand. would have to
pay But no dealer would have much
luck CO ling on the average consumer
SIX months after he had bought his
coal and asking for another hand out
equivalent to Il per cent of the origi-
laI price.
The Burlingame and Usage mines,
,cording TO dealers, are being oper-
ted only partially. One operator, II
8 said. has quit business entirely. In
= a. few cases the price of coal T. o. b.
the mines. IS actually lower than be
fore the strike. a fact to be accounted
for only by a consideration of the con-
tract system-an institution that
makes the solution Of the income tax
law and the League of Nations con-
troversy seem like Paradise by COM
parison