Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-22
OUTLOOK
IS OUTLINED
Winter Famine and High
Prices in Store for Con-
sumerS, is Outlook
BY EDWARD NJ. TIiIERRY

winter famine ana nlBn pfaceS
are in store for the majority Of BIZ
luminous coal users-and prices are
already up more than 50 per cent.
This Is indicated in p survey made
by N. e. A. Service of large cities
representative of soft coal condi-
tions.
In eight of these cities retail deal
ers and fuel commissioners predict
a famine-some reporting famine
already prevailing. Uncertainty ex-
lists in one city (Pittsburgh). Only
four do not expect a serious short
age-Cincinnati. Columbus, Kansas
City and New Orleans.
Retail price increases average
$3.S6 a ton in the IS cities canvass
ed, and in such places as Chicago,
st. Louis and Cleveland reach near
ly twice that figure-or about 100
per cent.
The pinch of the coal strikes eff
feet on householders will grow more
serious with the approach of fall and
winter. retailers say.
No survey was taken of eastern
cities, where family furnaces burn
anthracite instead of bituminous
coal. In the west and southwest
bituminous is used to some extent,
but oil Is SO commonly used as fuel
that b%ituminous prices there, which
are normally high, have not been
included In the survey that follows:
PITTSBURGH: Domestic bitumin-
u coal is retailing at from Sc to IS
a ton, undelivered. Prices before the
strike for the same grade of coal
ranged from "a to $3.50. There Is
much difference of opinion among
retailers as to possible shortage and
higher prices next winter.
CLEVELAND: Dealers say there
Is absolutely no bituminous lump
coal in the city nor any equivalent
for domestic use. They ex-
When last available this coal cost
a ton as against from 1915 to
SO a ton before April /. Extremely
high prices are expected unless the
government acts.
CINCINNATI: Bituminous lump
coal today costs IS to $3.50 a ton, as
against $3.50 on April l.. Fred NJ.
of the Chamber of Com
merce fuel committee, says there
will be NJ famine this winter, but
that prices probably will be higher.
TOLEDO: The only bituminous
coal available here is free coal
IN transit before the appointment of
fuel commission. 1t Is at a pre-
being sold at $14 per ton, but
most dealers refuse to handle it, say
ing the price is too high. SimilaS
grades sold for $3.50 a ton in April.
A price slump is expected when Ohio
resume. but the northwest de-
mand through the port of Toledo,
coupled with expected transportation
troubles, will probably cause the
price to climb to $14 again during
the winter, when a shortage is ex-
expected. All local coal reserves are
exhausted.
CHICAGO: The present supply or
bituminous lump coal here is less
than $4,000 tons with dealers asking
from $12 to SIS a ton. as c~ontrasted
with an April 1 supply of 475,000
tons sold for from 1925 to $3.50,
delivery. Chicago's supply
Is confined to a few big dealers; out
80 yards canvassed not n had
4 pound of bituminous coal. Most
1ealers expect a famine next winter,
With prices from SO to IS a ton high
,r than in April.
ST. LOUIS: E. j. Wallace, presi-
lent of the Wallace Coal Co., and a
member of the Missouri Fuel Dis
.ribution Commission, predicts a do
coal famine with prices much
than those of last winter.
coal is quoted at from
s12 to SIS a ton, as against $3.50 for
he best grades last April. but there
none available. Wallace says a
is inevitable under the gov
ernment's plan Of distribution.
KANSAS CITY: The prevailing
price of bituminous lump coal is $40
ton as against $3.50 last April.
With increased demand when the
are expected to jump, although the
is expected to increase with
the resumption of work in south
western fields.
BIRMINGHAM: Domestic lump
coal now costs from S5.75 to IS a
tor. April prices ranged from S4.75
to $3.50. Retailers say a winter
and high prices are inevita-
BILE because of the failure of mines
to produce domestic coal.
MEMPHIS: A coal shortage and
sky-high prices are expected Eext
winter. Coal for domestic consump-
ton is now selling at $S.25 a ton as
against 81 on April /.
COLUMBUS: Under the state fuel
&C commissions priority ruling no coal
for domestic consumption has been
available in Columbus since the end
of July. Dealers say that when 1t Is
available it will retail at from Sill to
SIC a ton. Prices for lump coal April
1 were 81 to $3.50 a ton. With OHIO
union mines r%eopening no famine is
expected next winter.
SEATTLE: There is some degree
of coal shortage and higher prices
are expected. Bituminous lump coal
costs $12 a ton at bunkers and s13 so
delivered, as against S11.30 last
April.
ATLANTA: Bituminous lump coal
costs $40 a ton as against $3.50 in
April. Dealers predict an acute
shortage next winter, for they have
no reserve supply. Prices are ex-
pected to soar.
NEW ORLEANS: Domestic grades
of bituminous coal now cost from
1915 to 1918 a ton, as against 81 rs
to 1925 in April. Retail stocks are
low. but no famine is expected uniess
transportation facilities break down