New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-16
ADVERTISEMENT
Hard Facts
About
Soft Coal


earnest desire to bring about a
fairer and clearer knowledge of
the exact functions of the
wholesaler in bituminous coal
of the precise scope and
nature of the public service he
is rendering day by day.
1t is the purpose, therefore, to
discuss in d general way, in
this first message, the exact
functions of the bituminous
coal wholesalers in their rela-
ton to this essential COM
modify.
WHOLESALER THE BALANCE
WHEEL
The wholesaler in bituminous
coal is the balance wheel Of the
industry. He provides small
and medium-sized producers
(who mine approximately 600
Of the country's bituminous
coal) with economical and eff
ficient means by which to mar
ket their coal. This insures a
healthy competition.
Roughly speaking, there are
about six or seven thousand in
dividual producers, or miners,
Of bituminous coal in this coun-
try. Of this number perhaps
less than one hundred have
sales organizations of their
own. The tonnage Of the re-
mainder is too small to Justify
the maintenance of such or
CARNATIONS, and, consequently,
the output of these small mines
must be handled by the whole
salers.
SAFEGUARDING COMPETITOR
In the absence of the whole
saler these small mines-small
in individual output but large
in number and aggregate ton
mage - would inevitably be
confronted with the alternative
of selling their product through
the larger and stronger oper-
ators, or going out Of business.
In either case the control of
the bituminols coal of the
country would necessarily pass
into "a few strong hands"
1t is obvious, therefore, that
the wholesaler of bituminous
coal in serving as a connecting
link between these small and
medium-sized producers and
the consumer is performing a
Uital economic function. Only
by his instrumentality and
through the facilities he pro-
vides is the small producer
enabled to compete success
fully with the larger producer,
thereby insuring to the con-
sumner a broader purchasing
market and a strictly competi-
tive price, thus maintaining
the relation of supply and de-
mand in determining an equi-
table profit.
A USEFUL PUBLIC SERVANT
Apart from vital economic
features justifying the exist
ence Of the wholesaler in btu
minous coal, he performs for
the consumer many services of
a very important nature
First: He aids in the selection
of proper coal for the specific
consumer, and because he Is
not exclusively interested in
selling the product of par
ticular mine he can and does
give unbiased, helpful and valu-
able advice as to the quality
and grade Of coal best adapted
to the consumers needs.
Second: Representing a large
number Of small and medium
sized operators scattered in
different fields, he is better
able to serve his customers in
event of transportation or labor
difficulties than a producer
whose operations are confined
to a restricted field where one
or both of these disturbing
factors may seriously curtail
or even terminate shipments.
The wholesaler ordinarily has
on his staff a transportation
expert, whose business it is to
facilitate the movement of coal
to his customers.
Third: In the trans-shipment
of coal at tidewater ports from
railroad cars to barges and
other vessels destined to New
York and other domestic mar
kets the wholesaler in btu
minous coal performs q service
which the ordinary consumer
is without facilities fo,. ,,ndor