Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-31
NO COAL SHORTAGE,
HENRY FORD SAYS
81
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@a.DETROIT, Mich, Aug. 29.-(By
tiie Associated Press.)-Henry Ford
IN announcing Saturday that his
plants would be closed September
~16 because of conditions in the coal
Industry, began fight for what he
ssbelieved is great principle, the
ASSOCIATED Press was informed in
sources close to the manufacturer. =
Mr.. Ford, it was stated, has start
ed what, he declared, is a fight
against alleged profiteering in coal
and that he believes he is in q bet
Ter position, perhaps, to do so than
any one else. He feels. it was stat
red. that by taking up the fight he
is doing everyother manufacturer, as
well as working men throughout the
country, a real service.
Mr.. Ford denies there Is a coal
shortage. The Investigations of his
representatives has convinced him.
it was stated, that coal brokers Of
1.-The country have an enormous sup
vsply of coal on hand. The Ford Mo-
tor company could obtain enough
4 coal to cover a tract ten acres
lsquare if it would submit to being
(, ss.Victimized by profiteers. it was d.
clared.
-. For several weeks, it was asserted,
the Ford offices at Dearborn have
been flooded with offers of coal with
s-deliveries guaranteed. It was de-
ss.slared that the prices asked ranged
from 100 to 800 per cent above the
normal cost.
slThe Detroit manufacturer believes
that if he yields to what he terms
1.-THE hold-up" of the coal brokers
avery other manufacturer will fol-
lew suit and that coal prices will
reach an unprecedented figure. One
source close to Mr.. Ford said the
manufacturer had sat the back of
his mind picture of working men
sbeing unable to buy enough coal to
Keep their families warm because of
the prices that eventually would be
asked. unless this profiteering was
nipped in its inception
the Ford company recently has
received a large number of offers on
the part of coal operators to sell
mines. 14ksMhsE
None of these offers has been
given consideration, because Of the
present transportation conditions.
1t was explained by persons close
TO- Mr.. Ford today that the offering
of mines meant but little "as they
can be purchased now for almost
nothing because of the large stocks
OF coal held by brokers' -
The manufacturer. still believes
linking Of the Louisville and Nash
vile and the Detroit, Toledo and
lronton railroads, the latter his own
property, would solve not only the
Ford company problems but those
OF every other coal user in the Lakes
region. Coal for shipment is avail
able in Kentucky, according to adj
Wees here, and only awaits a means
of bringing it out.
: Unless the Ford motor company
receives coal from an unexpected
source, it will close all its manu-
featuring departments in the De-
troit district September 16.
This statement was made at Mr..
Ford's offices today in answer to a
rnnor in circulation in Detroit and
s!sewhere to the effect that a way
-hfd been found out of the COM
PEny's fuel problems.
ssMr. Ford, it was reiterated. ia
nr1n in his conviction that for him
&
this time would have the effect of
keeping coal costs up at the ex-
pense of other manufacturers and
the householders of the country.
FORD COSTS 0NLv $50
MORE, HOOVER SAYS
WASHINGTON. Aug. 29.-It
would cost Henry Ford only $1.50
more per car to manufacture his au-
tofnobiles at the present high prices
Of coal, Secretary of Commerce
Hoover said today in commenting
on the Detroiter's announced inten-
ton of closing down his plants Sep
tember 16.
Mr. Ford has said that he would
fetuse to pay the present prices, even
lf he could get all the coal he
needed.
The secretary pointed out that by
September Is congressional machin-
cry to curb coal prices would be in
operation.
: Pending such time as this ma
schinery becomes effective Hoover
sdoes not anticipate that coal will go
much over Sc per ton, at the mines.
(which is approximately $3.50 higher
Ethan the average fair price now in
reffect to various coal mining states.