The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-27
COAL is VERY SCARCE

There is no avoiding the conclusion
that buyers of coal for our country
elevators are pretty generally of the
opinion that they are either being
held up, or are forced to do without
coal. Right or wrong this seems to
be the general conclusion. 1t is also
a fact that consumers are of the same
opinion and the result is the limited
placing of orders, both IN wholesale
and retail way.
Very few country elevators have
enough coal in stock to fill a CRATE.
For example there isn't car of coal
in Camden, nor at kitchell, or at Bos-
ton. Witt Station, Hagerstown, Foun-
tain City or at Lynn, at least there.
wasn't on Tuesday evening. And the
number of towns in the same fix
might be continued Indefinitely.
One buyer for more than one COM
munity said on Tuesday afternoon that
while they had lot of Kentucky coal
contracted for, and some of it is pre-
sumably on the road, there was much
uncertainty as to time of its arrival.
He said coal isn't exactly scarce; in
fact there is plenty of it to be had; if
you are willing to deal with a broker,
pay his price and let it go at that. It
is my opinion that the operators are
getting some of the excess price paid
to brokers. l can't see it in any other
way"
Wouldn't wonder if he isn't right
in that opinion" said another elevator
man, when this conversation was re-
peated. "At any rate l find that the
broker who seems actually able to de-
liver coal charges a lot more for it at
the mine than does the operator him
self"
Two Cars at Milton
The Milton Grain company reported
the unloading of the last one of two
cars on Tuesday. The coal was not
being unloaded into the bins, by long
sight, but into farm wagons at the
track side. 1--WE have received two
big cars of Kentucky coal, said R. o
| Clark, the new manager, the first that
has come in since the Uhle Milling
company, of Connersville, took over
the three elevators of this system, on
September 1. He said that the coal
was going out at 1915 a ton and is
a good article. He also said that they
had taken in a car of wheat in the past
week at cost of 81 a bushel. Silo
filling is about done in the Milton dis
trict, most of the silos having been
filled quite early.
We have a little coal in the bins,
not enough to hurt, said the manager
of the elevator at Lynn, and are sell
ing it at $11. He said he considered
S11 out of all reason for soft coal, but
it is the best he can do on the lot he
is handling. And more than that he
says everybody should act on Henry
Ford's advice and buy from hand to
mouth till prices drop. THAT will help
bring prices down." said he.
The Eikenberry elevator at Camden
reports being entirely out of coal Just
now, but have some ordered The man
ager said they had not charged more
than 1925 for coal thus far, which was
plenty, in his opinion The Farmers
elevator also is out of coal and don't
know just when car will arrive. They
consider the mine prices quoted as be-
ing much too high. Centerville is in
the same fix, and is without a pound
of coal.
Camden paid up to $102 for wheat
during past few days but is now on
S1.O1 basis at the Eikenberry plant:
Richmond is buying at a fiat 81 q
bushel.
Building up the Soil
According to the soil improvement
committee of the National Fertilizer
association, an adequate program for
the maintenance of soil fertility.
should include these factors:
First the establishment of rotation.
including a legume; the conservation
OF farm manures; the use of lime when
necessary; the use of fertilizers. gen
orally a complete fertilizer for wheat:
phosphate and potash combination
for corn, and lastly the reinforcement
of manure with acid phosphate.
The committee goes on to say that
the soundness of this program has
been proven by countless soil expert
ments and demonstrations and is gen
orally recognized; yet the number of
farms on which this program is car
ried out in its entirety is few" The
committee further states that 'inabil-