The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-24
WAGON MINE DEALERS
OFFER CHEAPER COAL


as S6,75. This gives a good margin
and allows US to undersell the re-
taller. This is the type of coal the
retailer gets around $500 for.
IF any reflection is cast upon the
wagon mines it is because they are
selling coal cheaper than the retailer
cam
More About Wagon Mines.
l.. Pizitz continues to advertise
Cahaba red ash and Phoenix red ash
Goals delivered in cellar at prices un-
der retail yard delivery.
AT the Pizitz office 1t was said
we are selling mine run Cahaba
red ash at $3.50, clean nut at $3.50
and fancy lump at $3.50. We are sell
ing Phoenix red ash at 1915 for pea
coal, 1925 for nut and $6.75 for lump.
We took on the Phoenix coal last
July and could have sold twice as
much as we did had the mines the
capacity. The Cahaba coal was taken
on in September and has also proven
a good seller.
The Phoenix coal has come direct
from mines to cellar. Some of the
other coal comes to us in car lots and
delivery is direct from car In both
instances the cost of yard operation
is eliminated
Satisfied. They Say.
We have had no complaints from
either of the Goals and demand has
been greater than supply.
wagon mine delivery had substan-
tial advertising this fall and that
counts for much of the vogue. Wagon
mine delivery puts the same grade
of coal into the cellar at about SO
under other retail delivery. That is
the long and short of it,"
Cheaper from Wagon Mines
There are ways of getting coal at
lower price that through the custom
airy retail yards with their overhead"
said representative of the Shades
Valley Coal company.
we are delivering by truck direct
from the mine the very highest grade
Of red ash Cahaba coal at 7.50 per
ton for selected lump and 1925 for
mixed furnace coal. This coal carries
only 3 per cent of ash.
Close to City.
1.-THE mine is eight and a halt
miles from the city and we use trucks.
The same grade of coal is being sold
from retail yards at $3.50 a ton and
was sold from retail yards last win
ter as high as $11.50 per ton
I'VE figure n fair profit at the
prices we charge. We can sell
freight, have no rehnndling
charges and no yard costs. 1t
stands to reason TINT direct from
mine delivery, saving freight and
yard costs should be cheaper. As
matter of fact, Ii LIS at least
81 cheaper than retail yard opera
ton and the consumer gets the
benefit.
Business was good in October, but
has fallen off this month, owing to
the remarkably warm spell"
In 1914 and 1921
Charles r. DeBardeleben of the
Alabama Fuel and Iron company said:
TT is impossible for coal opera
tor to figure cheaper coal at time
when his overhead and production are
so far apart. The overhead goes on
while production is very light.
would gladly exchange conditions of
1914 SO far as profits are concerned
with present conditions.
'FOr example, we> paid $1.T5
per day for n pumper In 1914 and
we pay S3.44 per day for the same
job now. other classes of work,
such as track men, electricians.
tippIe naen, brnttice men. hoisting
engineers. gas men, safety men.
firenhen and the rest, are paid In
tne A0me anu ASaths
the smaller price paid day labor
In 1914 was for 10 hours, while
now the larger wage Is for eight
hours.
Says They Are Losing
1.-THE coal operators are not making
money under such conditions. 1t
cannot be made with the small pro-
duction and the steady overhead.
None of my company mines, for in
stance, are working today, but the
overhead keeps going 1 doubt II
four coal operating companies have
made money this year.
Selling prices in 1914 was one
condition, but the cost of getting out
the coal in 1914 was also a condition.
The two must be considered together.
This makes me repeat that from net
profit standpoint. the conditions of
1914 were preferable to those of to-
day, with the higher prices for prod
uce coupled with what the produce