The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-14
BIRMINGHAM
TO PAY MORE
ITS COAL
Wage Increases at Mines Be-
ing Translated into Retail
Price Advances As Sum-
mer Rates Go Into
Effect

Increases in wages at coal mines
of the Alabama district, ending with
that Of 12la per cent effective March
t6, have been translated into higher
prices for coal at the mines and at
retail yards. Domestic coal placed
in the consumers cellar is averaging
from 81 to 50 higher than at the
same time last year. AS a result,
Birmingham coal bill will be heav-
Ter by some s150,0o0 this year.
To illustrate the advance in retail
prices: Fancy Empire lump, which
sold this time last year for Sc. is at
SIS for lots of and 10 tons. Medium
Empire lump is s7.75, compared with
about S5.75 at this time last year.
Empire nut is $3.50, compared with
$3.50 at this time in 1922. These are
SO advances.
large dealer in several grades of
coal said his advances over last year
at this time would average 81. He
gave the following figures as todays
prices: Warrior River egg, S6.75;
Warrior River lump, 81: Sterling
o4@eN NIeSN lump, 9i'o, Slei iIiis
Black Creek egg. $3.50; Montevallo
lump, SO; Montevallo nut. ss.75.
These prices. he said, are uniformly
81 over the same time last year.
o O o
VIII Advance Later.
April prices are customarily the
lowest of the year. The present April
retail prices are 81 under the peak
prices of the past winter but they
point Enthusiastically to higher prices
next winter than prevailed last win
ter due to the higher start and the
customary advances of 20 cents ton
made monthly at mines after April.
Retail dealers. when questioned as
to the cause of the advance in retail
price. said it was directly due to the
advance in price at the mines. The
operators claim, the retailers say.
that the advances In miners wages
of last fall and March 16 have raised
the price of mining the coal at least
81 at the mines. This dollar they are
adding to last years price at this
time made the. retail yard and the
retailer is adding 1T to his price. In
some cases more is added. The range
is between ST and So on retail coal
above the same time last year.
Retail Stocks Low.
Stocks on retail yards are very
small. 1t is estimated that there are
less than 1000 tons altogether. One
large retail yard has only 100 tons.
A prominent retailer said; "Regu-
lar retail yard CUSTOMERS of the coal
operators contracted for their coal
some time ago and they are getting
in supplies. They will be able to fill
their yards. On the other hand, I'm.
less we retail dealers dispose of lot
of coal before next fall, the custom
ary coal famine will recur with the
still higher prices prevailing. We
cannot afford to maintain maxi
mum overhead on small sales and
then fill a rush demand.
The raise in price is direct reflex
of the higher price at the mines.
The operators tell us that the wage
increases have added at least 81
ton to cost of production and some
times more than that. Our margin Is
no higher than before. The coal costs
us more.
Mines Sold Up.
The man who would open a retail
coal yard now would find it hard to
lay in a full supply. The coal mines
are sold up on domestic coal for rest
of the year, | understand, and will
be kept busy with their regular pa
irons"