The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-06-30
COAL SHORTAGE PREDICTED:
HIGHER PRICES BOUND
TO FOLLOW

Bose Idaho June 26Unless people generally lay in
their supply of coal there will be the shortage
Idaho winter history the state and the price will
soar to unheard of heights This the opinion Of capable
thortes who have made close investigation subject
In the history of coal mining in the districts supplying fuel
to Idaho there has been such low production
present time The mines have been practically idle for long
time on account of lack of orders With the exception of
Mutual Coal Co., supplying far stockholders only
has not been mine in Utah. for example, working than
an average OF two days week This that when the
fall demand the mines will be in position to supply
It, Moreover will be owing movements
then.
Meantime the mines forced to the of certain
heavy overhead although practically idle and the public will
nave to pay the fiddler in increased prices.
No Reduction in Price.
The investigation referred to dscoses that there will be
ducton In price, although there quotations inferior
ccal at lower than $500 the ruling price Utah mines
For standard COAL such most people must have the price
will be maintained the mine because the with
the miners runs until May l, next year.
There will be reduction in the freight rate announced
by the interstate commission head Joel L. Priest
general agent of the Oregon Short Line sad There is no
prospect whatever of reduction in the freight coa
nor is there any hope for cut in the mine prices.
we are advised that many people who ordinarily
coal have deferred doing the theory that they will be
pe 10 BUY later for less In this they going
be disappointed
More Liberal Treatment of Public Utilities Demanded
for Public Good.
That more liberal treatment must be accorded to public ut
tues they are to give the service the public demands was
emphasized by Gephart dean of the school of
and finance of the Washington University and president
OF the First National bank in ST. Louis Even the better in
formed people, he said show lack of Appreciation of the
utility problems and he urged that the utilities give fu NH
Lefty to their operations and problems
Service First
Three factors according to Mr. Gerhar deserving of
particular attention in study of the public utility situation
The first that service rather than should be stress
ec oy the utilities Commissioners, unfortunately have
devote SO much attention to valuations that the public views
the situation as of rates He maintained the American
public u.s. after ALL primarily interested securing service and
is Wiling to for good service whatever NAV properly
cost rOr'-'
Mr. Gephart urged that utilities should be permitted to es
tabsh rates which will permit the making of plant extensions
from earnings With the competition for money that will ex
st for the next ten both domecay and
and internationally utilities will find it difficult to give the
pubhc the service it wants and to make necessary
extensions unless such method can be adopted Tba
speaker depored the necessity for making capital
tor additions and extensions and indicated that the result
lar as the pubic IS concerned will be substantially same in
the end. 49, ~ "
The third factor the necessity for predetermined de-