The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-19
"A COAL SHORTAGE
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(Continued from Page One.)
waiting and are still waiting, for
lower coal prices"
But that doesn't make much differ
ence. Because even the infinitesimal
demand is all that they are able to
supply in the more popular kinds of
coal, most of the dealers said. Two
of them reported that they were able
to get Kansas coal from the South
western fields, in fair quantities, that
they are getting some Illinois coal, and
a little Colorado coal. Others say
that they can't get enough of any kind
of coal to meet their demands. -
Shortage of Cars and Equipment.
The shortage of cars and equipment,
especially motor power, is blamed by
most of the dealers for the fact that
they can't meet even the present de-
mand with the coal which they can
get. Most of them believe that the
troubles of the railroads, rather than
short production at the mines, is hold
ing back coal deliveries at the present
time
Each dealer backed this argument
. with notices of cars which have been
shipped from the mines and are in
transit, some of them for thirty days
and more.
Cars in Bad Order, He Says.
However, H. H. Newcome, salesman
for Kansas City operator, encoun-
!
only railroad trouble, but that the
Kansas mines are undermined at the
present time. He declared that 40
per cent of the cars which are received
at the Kansas mines for loading at
the present time, are in bad order
and would not normally be used for
shipping coal. The priority order to
: the railroads, carrying the authorize
ton of the interstate commerce COM
mission to side track other freight and
carry coal, will help some when cold
weather comes on, the dealers say.
But they say it with pessimism in
their tones.
Not Much Coal Coming In.
Summed up. the situation as it
stands, if the results of the investiga-
ton may be credited, is that there is
little coal in either cellars or coal
yards, and more coal is not coming in
fast. That there has been more delay
in the purchase of coal by the common
or garden variety of plug citizen than
ever before and that it looks like a
cold winter.
When reference was made to prices,
dealers produced their records to show
that the margin on which they are
operating at the present time on
southeastern Kansas coal. which is
. about half of the domestic coal used
in Topeka, was never more than 50
per ton, and that out of that they
paid their delivery charges, their over
head, took their shrinkage and tkeir
profits.
No Price Forecast
Not a dealer made a forecast on
prices. They were indignant in denial
of the implication that they are prof
iteering. They point out. and prove
/. by their old bills, that they are being
charged from 81 to So more at tAe
mines for coal now than they were
enlarged in 1920 and that freight rates
have not been reduced to make any
such difference as that.
Dealers Meet at c. of c.
Fourteen Topeka coal dealers met
atlthe Chamber of Commerce Monday
might to interchange views and infor-
fnation on the present condition. The
points which the various dealers made
IN addressing the informal meeting
ssHere the same as those which have
been brought out in today's survey.
The dealers even went so far as to
swap figures on how much it costs
mem to handle a ton of coal, and their
Figures varied widely.
- The coal men attacked the state
sn3euts of Judge Crawford that coal
Eeuld and should be sold cheaper in
Eopeka than it is being sold. They
ppinted to the narrow margin of profit
on which they are operating at the
spresent time.
Joseph DuBreuil, of the Jackson
walker Coal company. today submit
fed figures showing that his firm did
tnsiness at loss of more than S.
30 for last year in Topeka. and that
The margin this year is no higher than
q was last year.