Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-31
COKE $40 TON
ON SIDEWALK
IN ST. LOUIS
Production Cost Higher and Is
of Better Grade Than In
dianapOlis By-PrOduct.
HOW MARKET IS BUILT
Rv STAFF CORRESPONDENT


ST. LOUIS, Mo, May 31.-Coke,
produced at a greater expense than
the by-product of the Citizens Gas
Company of Indianapolis and said
to be of a better grade, is being
offered in the open market of St.
Louis at a price less than that asked
for coke in indianapolis. The NJ. w.
Warren Coke Company, which Oc-
cupies the same position to the
Laclede Gas Company of st. Louis
as does the Domhoff & Joyce Com
pany to the Citizens Gas Company
is making sidewalk delivery Of coke
at $40 a ton.
p. II. Woods, vice president Of the
Warren company, says his concern Is
not making much money by selling coke
at that price But it was absolutely
necessary to create a market for coke he
declared. and in order 10 so do the price
had to be brought down to a figure that
would attract all classes of fuel con
sumers. He explained that the bulk of
the St Louis fuel supplies was drawn
from the Illinois coal fields and that
this Illinois coal is Of a poorer grade and
commands o lower price than that used
in Indianapolis.
Therefore. you can readily see that we
have to sell our coke for less than the
Indianapolis dealer or get out Of the mar
ket" Mr.. Woods said. I'VE cant come
in with high. priced coke and compete
with low priced coal, even though our fuel
is much cleaner and, in addition, has
numerous other advantages"
SAYS CITY COULD
ADVANCE COKE SALES.
People generally do not understand
what an excellent fuel coke really is" he
continued. Its cleanliness alone is big
factor In its favor and does commend II
TO many buyers but the average man
overlooks this feature since the city au-
thorities pay little or no attention to the
smoke and dirt nuisance. 1t is dollars
and cents that interest him. II he is able
70 get fuel a little cheaper even though
II IS smoky md dirty and more difficult
10 handle, that is the fuel he buys. We
would have easier sailing IL the city had
more stringent smoke inspection de-
partment. II was better before the war,
hut like so many other things. the smoke
inspection department went more or less
to seed during that period"
He said his company rather looked 10
the women's clubs to help them out on
the smoke question. That is that the
women would lead some move to abate
the smoke nuisance.
The higher Production cost in ST. Louis
{ he uerfarea was due to the fact that
both the Indianapolis and St Louis gas
companies obtained their gas coal sup
plies from the same felds-eastern Ken
lucky and West Virginia-and that the
longer haul with the additional freight
charges made the coal more expensive
for the st. Louis company.
HOW THEY GO ABOUT
MARKETING COKE.
Mr.. Woods explained that the advan-
tnges of coke as a fuel for lnanufactur-
Ing and domestic use. are beng brought
TO the attention of the public by adver
tising, personal solicitation. demoustra-
;ions and then with follow up cam
paign that is meeting with considerable
success.
On the first floor OF the Laclede Gas
building, where consumers go TO sign
contracts and pay their bills, large coke
exhibit Is maintained. This exhibit is
Continued on Page seven.)