The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-23
coal PRICES 50
PER Gent HIGHER
WITH FAMINE {: Due |! {.
Survey Shows Only -Four Cities
Do Not Expect Serious
Fuel Shortage.
nv3EDwARp M. THiERRY

:
Bys EDWARD M. THiERRY
EsS{Winter famine and high prices
are in store for the majority OF bit
luminous coal users-and prices are
ALREADY up more than SO per cent
This is indicated in a survey
made by The West Virginian OF
large cities representative OF soft
coal conditions.
ss IN eight OF these cities retail
dealers and fuel commissioners
ssprehict famine-some reporting
zfanhine already prevailing. Uncer-
tainty exists in one city (P1tts-
4 burg. Only four do not expect
serious shortage-Cincinnati, Col
) umbus, Kansas City and New Or
cleans.
Retail price Increases average
aS3.86 a ton in the thirteen cities
canyassed, and in such places as
NChfcago, ST. Louis and Cleveland
neach nearly twice that figure-or
Sabout 100 per cent.
The pinch of the coal strikes eff
feet on householders will grow
more serious with the approach OF
stall and winter, retailers say.
$50 70 survey was taken of eastern
cities, where family furnaces burn
anthracite instead of bituminous
coal In the west and southwest
Il bftuminous is used to some extent,
q but oil is so commonly used as fuel
4 that biturninous prices there, which
ARE normally high, have not been
sinc1uded in; the, survey that fol-
lows
(J EP1TTSBURGH; Domestic bitun-
a from Sc to
aSS$ ton, undelivered. Prices be-
fore the strike for the same grade
sssof coal: ranged from 81 to $3.50.
SSTheresis much difference of opinion
y among re tailers as to possible sh or
$tage and higher prices next VIII
y ter.
CLEVELAND: Dealers say there
lis absolu tely no bitumin Gus lump
coal in the city nor any equivalent
I'M ailable for domestic USE They ex
before early October.
When last available this coal cost
$3.50 ton as against from 1919
taSS9 a ton before April 1. Extreme
al high prices are expected unless
gthe@government acts.
CINCINNATI: Bituminous lump
naIftoday costs IS to $50 a ton, as
eainst $3.50 on April 1. Fred NJ.
ReushaW Of the Chamber of Com
MERGE fuel committee says there
will &be no famine this winter, but
fhaAprices probably will be higher.
The only bitumin nous
sRump8 coal available here is free
SoaI i'll transit before the appoint
Inert OF the fuel commission. 1t is
NJ at a@premium, being sold at Sl4
s Sne,rgton, but most dealers refuse to
handle It, saying the price is too
high. Similar grades SOLD for SS-oo
s atom in April. a price slumpis ex-
ssssn,:acted when Ohio mines resume,
is mt the northwest demand through
z fSegDort of Toledo. coupled with eN-
81 sneefed Transportation troubles, will
rs NJ Ss1I,robabIy cause the price to climb
80 S14 again during the winter,
when shortage is expected. All
nc;.1 coal reserves are exhausted
I CHICAGO: The present supply OF
d ssi,it11min Gus lump coal here is less
3S,nan5n.OOO tons with dealers ask
IA 1ncsfro1n S1a to SIS ton, as con-
5s frasted with an April 1 supply of
,475, 600 tons sold for from S7.25 to
$3.50, Sidewalk delivery. Chicago's
supply is confined to a Few Dig
Sdsalers: out OF so yards canvassed
:s S,nte one had a pound Of bituminous
( coal, Most dealers expect famine
NEXT win ter, with prices from So to
:s5sE%ton higher than in April.
.s7 ssTsLOU1SE: Wallace; presi-
ant8of5 the Wallace Coal Co., and a
,ss; ~ amber Of the Missouri Fuel Dis
trIbution Commission, predicts do
mestfc coal famine with prices
much higher than tn oseSof last win
ter. Bitu1ninous coal isSquoted at
rom SIC to SIS ton, as against
81 5OSsfor the best grades last
anril, but there is none available
says famine Is inevitable
iInIlcrithe governments plan OIL as
Irfbution.
a. price of bituminous lump coal IS
sSNFa ton as against SSoo las I
III s1Lh. with Increased demand
q ~henf the first cold wave comes this
fall. prices are expected to jump,
although the supply is expected to
increase with the resumption OF
work in Southwestern fields.
ssBIRMINGHAM: Domestic lump
,,,sl now costs from $5.75 to SO a
ton Apri1 prices ranged from $4.75
RI $3.50. Retailers say winter IA
i ;,,fne and high prices are inevitable
!. because OF the failure of mines TO
nroducs domestic coal
4 MEMPHIS: A coal shortage and
Z sky.high prices are eApecteu next next
winter. Coal for domestic consump-
tion is now selling at SS-2oSa ton
against 81 on April 1.
sSC0LUMBUS: Under the state
,,,sl commissions priority rulings
..a.coal for domestic consumption
SESss been available in Columbus
.Sce the end of July. Dealers say
f,at when 1t is available it will re-
ntIS al from Sill to $12 a ton. Prices
Earsslnmps coal April We're 81 to
Fsg5 osaston. With Ohio union mines