The Washington herald., 1920-04-03
Real Estate Men Declare
Threatened Rise VIII
Not Affect Tenants.
DEALERS HARD HIT
Claim Uncertainty! Places
Their Business up
In the All"

Prediction that the increase of 81
a ton In the price of soft coal would
call for a big jump in rentals, last
night was declared to be without
by several Washington
real estate dealers. Little appre-
hension was caused among these
men by the announcement of the
coal increase.
On the other hand, the coal deal
ers are "up In the air." as one ex-
pressed II. They are not sure how
much the increase will be, and the
margin runs from $3.50 to S2.75 on
a ton. A number of dealers sell
coal before they get a bill from the
operators and II they sell at too low
a figure they have no way to recoup
their losses.
As the result of this dilemma a
number of dealers are refusing to
quote prices on bitumlnous coal and
none are signing contracts for fu-
ture delivery. Others are making
a guess at what the increase will
be. estimating 1t at 81. and quoting
prices at 1915 a ton.
Dealers Confused.
w. w. Griffith, Of the Griffith Coal
Company, said that things are SO
confusing the coal dealers hardly
knew whether they were coming
or going" either as to the question
of getting bituminous coal or the
price to charge for it after it is re-
ceived.
In regard to the effect on rents
II the coal increases. a number of
af faf H.
not believe il would cause any dis
turbance unless the other elements
entering into the landlord" busi-
ness also took a jump.
The coal season is virtually over.
Ii was said. Any effect caused by
higher prices would not be noticed
until next October. said Harry c.
Birge, Of Gasch e. Birge. The con-
sumption of coal as ii relates to
rent, he said. Is so small that a 25
per cent increase in the price of
coal would not justify a material
rent increase.
Effects Would BE SIirht.
E. G. Perry. head of the rent de-
rartment of the F.. II. Smith Real
Estate Company. pointed OIL. that n
the case of an apartment mouse with
seventy-five apartments, r:nning
fuel bill of $4,000 a year, tho in
crease would amount to $500, or
about $4S month. A raise to cover
the increased cost of coal would
only amount to 72 cents a month
for each apartment, he said.
All the dealers were inclined TO
discount the statement alleged 10
have been made by the manager OF
n Nm
coal prices would adj S.0.OOU a year
to the maintenance of his building.
He would have to Durn : 900 toLs of
coal year, one of them said.
Statement for Operators.
New York. April 2-The following
statement was made here today by
Thomas T. Brewster, chairman of
the scale committee of the bitumi-
nous operators. in reply to published
statements of spokesmen for the
United Mines Workers of America:
"1nsinuations that the coal opera
tors are going to gouge the public
because of the recent 81 per cent
advance in wages, as put out by
United Mine Workers spokesmen in
the guise of protest in the public in
terest are sheer nonsense.
During the coal miners entire
ly unwarranted and unlawful cessa-
tion from work, all stocks of coal
were depleted and a shortage now
exists throughout the country. The
replenishing of stocks has been re-
tarded by a serious car shortage.
Consequently large consumers of
soft coal are competing for the
available supply. which has result
ed in the offer of higher prices
than the operators are willing to
accept.
All responsible operators will
condemn any unwarrantabIe price
or any profiteering policies.
The bituminous coal commission
having awarded the miners a wage
scale giving them very high earn
ing power. the public now has the
right to demand more work. with
advanced coal production. and less
talk"