New-York tribune., 1922-06-11
Price Scale Is
Announced for
Chilean Nitrate
Rumor Government Favors
Repeal of Lew Providing
/ for the Payment of Ex-
port Duties in Gold
May Also Aid Producers
Shortage Of Coal Probably
Will Lead Ra ilroads $
to Seek Supplies Here

Approhcn OF tne udl'-"u'J ~ ~
the agreement Of October last, be-
tween the Chilean Nitrate Producers
and the "Pool," Of Europe, for fixing
a new schedule Of selling prices for
nitrate. there has been considerable
speculation as TO whether the asso-
citation would announce its intentions
for the coming year before the end
Of June. in view Of the effect it
hight have on sales before that date
However. a conference has been held
BY the members OF the association and
delegates from the government. and
the following scale OF prices. per kilo-
gram, announced from July /. 1922, to
July l. 1928: 90
From July I. iss. Cd; from July IS,
iss. Cd: from August !, los, from
August Is. ies, 3D.; from September J .
los. Cd: from September 10. lbs. "a
from October /. 20s; from October 10
20s. ID: from November. 2Os, "a; from
November l6. 20s. Sd; from December
10 April 80, 20s, Sd; in May, lss, 9di
in June. iss. Cd.
These prices represent n comprom ise
between the members Of the assoeia,,
tion who advocated a greatly reduced
rate which they claimed was necessary
In order 20 put the Chilean nitrate IN
position where competition from ar
tifcial products need not be feared.
and AZ the same time permit produc-
tion on a larger scale, and those mem
bers OF the association having con-
nections with the "pool' Of Europe
whose desire was 20 maintain high
selling rates. in view Of the large
stocks OF nitrate still unsold both IN
Europe and in Chile. contracted Tor az
the old high rates.
Adopt Metric Measure
In addition 10 fixing new prices the
association also announced AZ IT'S re-
cent conference that in the future the
metric quintal Of 100 kllos would be
used as n medium for making quota
tions. even though calculated on the
basis Of their new rates or IS. %. 10
as. Cd. the Spanish quintal o. 10 kilos.
This change Is made in order 10 obviatc
tho difficulties hitherto experienced
with quotations in Spanish quintals IN
countries which have adopted the mod
crn decimal metric system.
Rumors are circulating that govern
ment delegates az the nitrate confer
cnee expressed there the opinion that
tho government Of Chile was disposed
10 favorably consider the petition OF
nitrate producers that the Pratt law be
repealed. This law regulates the mode
Of payment Of export duties on nitrate
and requires that they be made IN gold'
which exporters claim is frequently n
source Of loss on account OF exchange
II is also reported that there Is a
possibility Of the nitrate producers oD-
tanning from the Government n con.
cession in the matter OF the financial
aid which they have been receiving, 10
the extent Of having II paid IN sterling.
The reason given by producers ior de-
string payments made in this way is
that their entire running expenses,
aside from the payment OF wages, are
calculated and paid in that currency
and that Il is necessary for them 20
know in advance the exact amount. un-
affected by exchange, that they VIII re-
eeive in order 20 meet their calcula-
tions.
Since the announcement OF the new
schedule OF nitrate prices several large
sales have been made both for con-
sumption in Europe and the United
States. which have had the effect Of
considerably strengthening exchange
in favor OF the peso.
Unrest Among Miners
The long period Of idloness in the
coal mines OF Chile, caused by social
and labor troubles among the miners,
has come to an end, but the hoped-for
era OF tranquility in those regions is
as yet far from being realized. The
bases on which work was resumed
have not all been to the liking OF the
miners. and they have been showing
their discomfort By half-hearted ef-
forts and repeated incidents OF a semi
revolutionary character. The result
is that the production OF coal is not
coming up 70 what was expected. This
is most keenly felt in the operation
Of the railroads. whose supply is not
sufficient ia meet their needs or 10
replenish. even TO n small degree, the
stocks Of surplus coal which u Is Gus
tomary for them 10 keep on hand. ans
which have become entirely exhausted
through the recent strikes and dis.
turbances.
There was a supply Of around 100000
tons OF foreign coal in Chile at the be-
ginning Of the year. from which the
railway companies were obliged 20 draw
during the three months OF mining in
activity. OF this supply IL is estimated
that only a sufficient amount now re-
mains 20 carry the raUronds along for
another fifteen days and with the small
output and consequent shortage OF ma
tive coal il is believed that they will
be Obliged 10 turn 10 foreign markets
FOR fresh purchases. The Chilean mines
nre at present in position 10 supply
them with 1000 tons daily. but this is
far from meeting their needs as their
FORMAL consumption amounts 10 somo-
thing more than 1900 tons.
Chilean Coal Problem
The coal problem in Chilean indus
trial life has become so acute. and the
impossibility Of continuing m unin-
terrupted service Of transportation
with the available supplies OF native
fuel so APPARENTLY. that the government
is reported 20 have withdrawn It's re-
sistance TO foreign purchases and will
probably authorize the state railways
to ask for bids in the United States
Immediately.
This situation. combined with the
government refusal 20 allow foreign
coal 20 be imported. has brought the
railroads TO such pass that they have
been obliged 20 greatly curtail their
normal train service. II is not known
just what amount Of coal will be need
ed to tide the roads over their present
dihieuities. but IL - believed that the
bids that will be asked in the United
States will in nll likelihood be for
somewhere around 10000 or $4,000
tons.