The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-15
Topeka STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington, D. C.
CLEVELAND COAL.

Cleveland, Ohio. July 1S.-Cleve-
land is again preparing to go into the
coal business. A new fuel official has
been appointed by the mayor at the
suggestion of the city council, and ar
rangements are being made for the
establishment of a municipal coal
pile, to be opened for the benefit of
the public on September 1. When the
cold weather comes and the price of
coal scars above fifteen dollars per
ton, as everybody predicts it will,
Cleveland is going to furnish coal to
householders at cost. plus the expense
of delivery.
Cleveland is within eighty miles of
one of the largest coal-mining dis
tricts in the country, and yet it is now
suffering from an acute coal shortage.
The reason advanced by coal dealers is
that the railroads not provide
enough cars to transport the coal from
the mines. They also claim that
strikes among the miners have pre-
vented a normal production OF COAL
which will result in an actual shortage
during the coming winter.
This seems to be considered suffi-
cient excuse for Immediately trebling
the price of coal-at least by the coal
dealers. But neither the city author
tiles of Cleveland nor the United
States attorney general, Mr.. Palmer
agrees with them.
Indeed, the latter disagrees so 1orc-
ibIv with the coal dealers that he mas
ordered a statewide investigator OF
coal prices and the prosecution OF
oDerafors who are charging more thah
Iii 7iT1r
not According to him, the wholesale
and retail dealers in coal are guilty OF
circulating deliberate propaganda con
corning a coal shortage in order 10
boost fuel prices.
Says Dealers EXaggerate.
1.-The production of coal has been
hammered he admits, but there is
M serious shortage. Dealers are pub
Fishing exagerations in the nope OF
cheating false prices. More coal was
mined during the first four months OF
1920 than during any similar period
in the history of the country
Lever act, Mr.. Palmer explained that
during the month of April, with the
production cost of coal at S2.79 ton,
operators sold their product at SO and
81 a, ton. Since then. the price has
been forced as high as 81 and 81 a
ton Indeed, if Mr.. Palmer only knew
il the price of coal in Cleveland and
Cincinnati is much higher than that.
Cleveland. moreover, is not cheered
by Mr.. Palmer's sanguine belief that
the investigation of coal prices by the
agents of the department of justice.
however ruthless they may be with
Reds" is going to result in bringing
coal prices down. The coal dealers
are for the most part American citi-
zens, in absolute accord with the
American system of government,
which fundamentally does not object
to~free profiteering.
Anyway, Cleveland is not taking any
chances. 1t is going about the solu-
ton of the fuel difficulty in its own
way,Awith apologies to the local coal
dealers. 1t is preparing to have a coal
yard, to fill it with about 5000 tons of
coal, and dispose of it fruga1ly in
small sacks or in one-ton loads at the
most to individual families In taking
this important step. the city authori-
ties hasten to add that they have no
unfriendly feelings toward the local
coal dealers. I'VE are not in bust
ness" declares one of the city fuel ex-
perts, ito disorganize any industry
Our object is not to run in opposition
with legitimate dealers, SO long a they
run their business honestly. But
when the situation becomes so seri-
Gus that it affects public health we are
going to be right there with our pile
of coal. We will not see any suffering
in Cleveland"