The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-08-28
ny EDWARD n. THIERRY

III InNAhb VI. itiEnth
Winter famine and high prices are
in store for the majority Of bltumin.
Gus coal users~~and prices are already
up more than 90 per cent.
This f. indicated in a survey. made
By ~. r. A. service for Tho Star. OF
large cities representative Of soft
coal conditions.
In eight OF these cities retail deal
era and fuel commissioners predict a
gAmlne--aorne reporting famine al.
ready prevailing. Uncertainty exists
IN ono city Gpistaburgi. Only four do
not expect serious shortage-cin-
rsnnaii. Columbus. Kansas City and
New Orleans
Retail price increases average fs.ss
ton in the ~ elite. cAnvaaaed. and
In such places as Chicago. ~. Louis
and Cleveland reach nearly twice that
Iflgure--or about 100 per cent.
The pinch Of the coal strikes effect
on houaoholdesn will grow more seri.
Gus with the approach Of fan and
winter. retailers say.
No survey WAS taken Of eastern
cities. where family furnaces burn
Anthracite instead Of bltuminoua coal.
In the West and Southwest bitufnin.
Gus Is used 10 some extent. but oil II
50 commoniy used a. fuel that btu
mlnous prices there. which are nor.
maiiy high. have not been incluaed IN
tho survey that follows:
PfTTsBuRG: Domestic bstumin.
Gus coal lm retailing al from 80 10 -
a ton. undcilvered. Prices before the
strike for th. same grade u coal
ranged from - 10 1850. There In
much differences Of opinion among
retailers as TO possible shortage aud
higher prices neat winter.
CLEVELAND: Dealers say there
lis absolutely no bisumlnoun lump
coal IN the city nor any equivalent
available for domestic use. They ex.
p~ct none before carly October. when
last available ahts coal cost $3.50 a
ton an against from 1915 20 80 "a ton
before April l. Extremely high pricns
are expected unless the government
acts.
CINCINNATI: Bl,umlnous lump
coal today costs 81 20 $3.50 a ton. as
against $3.50 on Aprli I. Fred NJ.
Renahaw. OF the Chamber OF Com.
mercs fuel committee. says there VIII
be no famine this winter. but that
prices probably will be higher,
TOLEDO: Tho only bitumInous
lump coal available here in free coal
IN transit befor. the appointment of
tho fuel commission. 1t is at "A pre-
MUM. being sold at sis per ton. but
most dealers refuse to handle u. say
ing the price is too high. Similar
grades sold for $3.50 a ton In Aprll.
A price stump Is expected when Ohio
mines resume. but the Northwest de.
mand thru tho port Of Toledo.
coupled with expected transportation
troubles. will probably cause the
price TO climb to ti4 again during
the winter. when a shortage In ex-
pected. All local coal reserves are
exhausted.
CHICAGO: The present supply of
bitumlnous lump coal here Ia less
than SO. 900 tons with dealers asking
from ti2 to sfs n ton. as contrasted
with an April supply OF 47s. 900 tons
sold for from 1875 TO $3.50. sidewalk
delivery. Chicago's supply Is con
fined to a few big dealers: out OF so
yards canvassed not one had a pound
Of bituminous coal. Most dealers ex.
peot a famine next winter. with
prices from 81 TO s. ton higher
than in April.
ST. LOUIS: r. J. Wallace, presl-
dent OF the Wallace Coal Co. and a
member OF the Missouri Fuel Dis
Itribution Commission. predicts do.
nestle coal famine with prices much
higher than those OF last winter.
Bituminous coal In quoted at from
si2 to SIS a ton. as against $3.50 for
the best grades last April, but there
IL none available. Wallace says n
famine is inevitable under the gov.
Iernment's plan OF distribution.
KANSAS CITY: The prevailing
price of bituminous lump coal is $40
a ton as against $3.50 last April.
With increased demand when the
first cold wave comes this fall. prices
are expected to jump. altho the sup.
ply IL expected TO increase with the
resumption OF work in Southwestern
fields.
nspxsrxfsre ~. $50.