Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-14

age margin of s27O a ton on all kinds
of coal.
Nine dealers of South Bend, S. E.
Lantz & Son, Knoblach & Martin. South
Bend Coal and Wood Company. Cash
Coal Supply Company, 7. B. butcher,
Staples & Hardman, Krouse & Phillips,
Miller Il Snow, Lantz & Son and
Schroeder Coal Company OF Mishawaka
figured their average costs per ton on
all coal at about SIT
Shortages Of coal in some months of the
year increase operation costs, and the
heavy tonnages in other months lessen the
costs Of operating, said, Mr.. Lantz. He
kept his men at work the year round, re
gardless of the coal supply, he said.
In normal year, he stated, he handled
about u, 500 tons.
When Examiner Howard Young. coun-
sci for the commission, questioned Mr..
Lantz the latter became somewhat nettIed
and retracted statements regarding his
annual Tonnage.
]. E. Schroeder Of the Schroeder Coal
and Ice Company of Mishawaka stated tbs t
labor conditions were most serious. due
to the acts of the Studebaker people in
hiring any and all kinds Of help" which
he explained caused a shortage Of labor
and necessitated the paying Of high
wages.
His tonnage at the present time, he
said, is low, and no Indiana coal is now
handled by him. but he said he used it
when it was available.
MISHAWAKA HAS
ONLY TEN DAYS SUPPLY.
Mishawaka has a supply Of coal which
Will care, for that place for about ten
days, he said
Yolney Lay Of La Porte told the com
mission that labor conditions inf.a Porte
differed from those in Michigan City,
claiming It is hard to get men, and
when men are available that high wages
are necessary.
Delivery conditions, he explained, are
bad, due to the streets.
The ordinary business condition Of his
company is rarely effected by a shorta &c
CT men. he said.
Charles Patton OF the Lyman Coal
Company, Lafayette, said labor Is scarce
and high priced due to internal condl-
tions.
His operating expense per ton from
Oct. l, 1918, TO Dec. 81, 1919, amounted
to S204.
From Dec. 81, 1919, until Sept. 1. 1920
the operating costs per ton amounted
to S2.SS.
For the last nine months Mr. Patton
said that the average tonnage has been
short while increases in labor since Jan.
l. amounted to about 81 more each week
Comparing last years figures with
those of the present year, Mr. Patton
stated that he was from forty 10 forty
five cars short in his coal receipts.
The majority of cars Of coal handled
by him were from Illinois and West yir-
ginia.
STATE EXAMINER
''sHAVES" RETAILERS PRICE.
a. L. Donaldson, field examiner of the
State Board Of Accounts, was placed on
the stand after Mr.. Patton had stated
that his present costs for hauling and
wheeling coal amounted to $245 per ton.
The report of Mr.. Donaldson gave
figures OF S1.95 per ton for the same
entry.
The figures were not taken from the
books, according to Mr.. Donaldson, but
were said to have been named by Mr..
Patton.
Other retailers who were examined in
Guided Albert Schneidel OF Lafayette,
Mark Brown Of the J. NJ. Leach Com
pany of Kokomo; W. o. Bossett Of the
Bossett Fuel Company Of KokomO /;
Ernest Ellis OF Ellis Brothers, Kokomo,
y. W. and 3. -. GiascOck, MuAcie, ana
representatives. OF the Shaw and Shaw
Company OF Charlottesville.
Retailers who Will be heard today
include the Alexander Coal and Ice Com
pany. Franklin; Sand Creek Coal Com
pany, Terre Haute; Miller Coal Com
pany, Terre Haute; Gregory Coal Com
pany.
Wagon mine operators will be heard
during the afternoon aesSion
The Stockton Coal Company Of Dug
ger has petitio1ed the commission FOR a
hearing at 10 o'clock Tuesday, Oct. 10.