Evening star., 1922-12-05
HARD COAL RECEIPT
HERE EFALLS BEHIND
Ton Shortage Increases
From $4,000 to 20,016
in Two Weeks.
BOOST IN PRICE LOOMS
Operators to Demand More-Penn-
sylvania State Tax Upheld
by Court.
BOOST IN PRICE LOOMS

The shortage Of hard coal continues
to grow more serious in washington
as weeks go by. figures made public
today by the Utilities Commission in
dicated.
A report given out by the commis-
sion on November showed Wash
ineton $4,000 tons shy Of the amount
of anthracite that should have reach
ed the District at that date. Today's
statement shows that two weeks
later. on November IS, the shortage
had increased to 20.016 tons.
The Pennsylvania fuel commission
advised local authorities several
months ago that because of time lost
by the mines during the summer
Washington would get this winter
only 31s,3eS tons OF hard coal. as COM
This allotment. Pennsylvania author
tiles said. should come at the rate of
1888 tons per week.
Actual Receipts Here.
On that basis the District should
have received 1O6,130 tons up to No
vember Is. An actual count dis
closes that only S6,114 tons had been
received by local dealers on that date.
These figures demonstrate the ne
cessity. District officials believe. for
rigid adherence to the rules laid down
by the commission, restricting the
amount of hard coal that may be de-
livered to each household at one time
coal in apartment houses and busi-
ness concerns except where 1t is
shown that the heating plant will not
burn soft coal.
Price Boost Seen.
Two things have occurred in the
anthracite coal fields that may re-
quire an increase here soon in the
price Of hard coal. it was learned to-
day. These developments are: An in
crease in the price OF hard coal at the
mines and the court decision uphold
ing the right of the state Of Pennsyl-
vania to collect a state tax of ap-
proximately Is cents per ton on hard
coal mined.
1t was learned from an official in
close touch with the local coal situa-
ton that one of the large Independent
anthracite operators has added $1.75
per ton to the price of his coal at the
mines. making the cost approximately
s7.25 per ton. To this must be added
$3.50. representing freight, the scent
tax collected by the local Utilities
Commission. as we'll as the dealers
margin. giving a retail price of ap-
proximately $17.0s.
Company Price. S14.13.
The anthracite mines. this official
said. have added 10 cents to the mine
price of broken anthracite. 20 cents
to egg and 10 cents to other sizes Of
anthracite. This. 1T is said. will make
the mine price IS for broken and $3.50
for ordinary household sizes. When
the $5S3 is added to $3.50 it gives an
approximate price for company coal Of
$l4.13.
1t was pointed out that most Of the
retail dealers are receiving hard coal
from independent and company mines
and are attempting to strike an aver
age retail price between the Sab for
company coal and the SIT for inde-
pendent coal.
A man in close touch with the local
coal situation said these average re-
tail prices are ranging between. $3.50
and $3.50 per ton, the latter figure be-
ing the maximum price laid down by
the Public Utilities Commission.
Uncertain ON Tax Effect.
So far as could be learned, none Of
the local dealers has taken up with the
Utilities Commission the question Of
exceeding $3.50 as a result OF increases
at the mines. It was learned. how
ever. that dealers are uncertain as to
affect the price Of coal. It was learned
from one coal man that the mines
have not been paying the state tax
pending litigation. This man said that
if the mines have to pay the tax for
the past period the dealers also may
have to reimburse the mines for the
tax on the coal they have received in
the past. Just what will happen, how
ever, dealers do not know.