Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-02
$3.50 At MINES
PRICE FOR COAL
FIXED BY HOOVER
Is Maximum Charge Ac-
cepted by 80 Per Gent
of Operators.
CONSUMERS ASSURED
OF FULL PRODUCTION
Small Minority of Producers
Are Demanding Higher
Rates.
BiG BOOST. SAYS MINEHS' HEAD
Lewis A.serts Schedule Higher Than
Before strike
Sfartcd
CONSUMERS ASSURED
OF FULL PRODUCTION
n'c boost. SAYS MINERS HEAD
Lewis Asserts Schedule Higher Than
Before strike
started.
LNv Assnciatcd rrcss- |

WASHiNGTDN. Jun" Estab-
liShm"nt Of maximum pric. Of t3.5N
ton for coal at the mines In 50 per
cent Of the present production fields
for TN" duration OF the strike. was
announced tonight hy Secretary
Hoover. He regretted h" added. tina.
small minority Of tho operators
representing Western kontucky-
had refused To co-op.rate and are
demanding higher prices
Consumers can insure Themselves
Of sqmar" deal under tho e.,ah-
iish"d prices by checking freight
rates with the maximum price" MIR
Hoover said. determine whether
they arc buying contract coal and
make rroper allowances for cost Of
retail distribution. Tho maximum
price, no explained, applies solely 20
spot coal. and consumers who arc not
treated fairly may appeal to tho
Commerce Department with asSur-
ance that inquiry into their cases
Will b" instituted
Virginia Operators Acr-pt.
Mr. Hoover announced ne had been
advised that operators Of Virginia.
West Virginia, Tennessee and East
crn Kentucky would accept the
maximum Of $3.50 a ton. while Ala
bama operators viii accept tho rate
Of - cents a ton below the Garheld
scale In that district
Western Kentucky operators, he
continued. are detnandind t4o5 ton.
hu, he did not feel justified In ad :
visinG the public TO accept that price
level. although nc said production
costs were higher in that district
than in other fields. Conference with
Pennsylvania operators are cxpccted d
10 hc held next week. IL should bo
. understood" Mr.. Hoover said, "tha,
the Who'll. "hjcc: ~ the adminis,ra-
lions interest In coal prices is 10
pr"tcct th- consumer by indicating
tn" maximum price tha, would be
fair for spot coal during tho tenn
porary period of the strike. and bv
OF operators VINO do not wish to
take advantage Of the present .itua-
tion."
Change in Contract Prices.
out of IN. 5,c00.00o tons of week
Is production OF biuminous coal.
probably 3.50oo0o tons are under
long term contracts to consumers at
there can he no alteration OF these
contract prices which. as IA rule. run
considerably below prices for spot
coal. aS they represent a steady busi-
joy long time contracts at lower
rates than IN. maximum fair price
suggested for soft coal. and IL would
he only fair To the public that, in
dealers should give the consumer the
fun benefit OF their lower prices and
| feel sur" from discussions with
them that tn" majority will do so.
Not Minimum Price.
The maximum price for spot coal
is not the minimum price. II is only
general figure that will protect the
public from such occasions as the last
pinch. when spot coal in many places
went to over $40 per ton. In arriv-
ing at the figures. the Garfield scales
! were taken as a basis. as these scales
were the result OF close investigation
hurihR III" Wat' ana allowances nave
been made FOR increased costs and a
general average Of tho situation
taken that would protect the public
and maintain production.
I'm these circumstances some mi
nor proportion uf the mines will
make considerable profits: some mi
nor proportion OF them Will under
Continued ON Page ., Col. 2.)