Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-09-08
COAL PRICES
FORCED UPWARD
In Ten Years Anthracite Coal Prices,
Wholesale and Retail,
Have Doubled.

Washington-How the prices Of
anthracite coal have been forced
steadily upward for the past 10
years, and how these increased prices
have been split between production
costs, transportation and profits, is
shown by a statistical analysis Of
coal costs just compiled by the U. 5.
Coal Commission.
In 10 years both the wholesale and
retail price of coal just about
doubled.
In 1913 the average retail price of
stove anthracite in Boston was
1925. In Washington it was $3.50.
Today the prices, respectively, are
$500 and $3.50.
Since 1913 the freight rate from
the anthracite field to Boston has in
creased 1925 a ton, to Washington
$1.14 a ton.
Eight Of the larger coal com
panies, closely affiliated with rail
roads, are grouped together in price
quotations. Their product is known
as Company" coal. In 1913 the
average price of company stove coal
at the mines was $3.50. Today the
company quotations are $8 to $9.35.
InBoston today, 81 pays for 128
pounds of coal OF this 81, AS cents
represents the sale price at the mine
and covers production costs, land
royalties and operators profit, The
railroads get % cents of this 81 for
their share in hauling the coal The
remaining 81 cents to the local
dealer.
In New York, where 81 buys las
pounds Of coal, the division is Sc
cents to the mine operator, Is cents
to the railroads and &c cents to the
dealer
In Philadelphia the consumer gets
1876 pounds for his 81, Of which 81,
lG and % cents go respectively to
mines, railroads and dealers.
In Washington the buyer gets 14l
pounds of coal and his 81 is split
SO cents to the mine, 20 cents to
freight and % cents to dealer.
Chicago, being a greater distance
from the anthracite field, pays a
greater proportion to the railroads
the Chicagoan getting only 100
pounds of coal for his 81, of which
the mine gets 40 cents the railroads
80 cents and the dealer Il cents
St Louis, which is on the western
fringe of the territory using authra-
cite, has a net price per ton "A cents
lower than Chicago, and the St
Louis dealer gets only Is cents of
each 81 the other S5 cents going to
railroads and mines.
Of the quotations today, SO ia
$685. f. o. b. mines, the cost Of pro.
auctions, according to the commits.
sion's experts average $568. OF
this the labor cost is 1897.
The f. o. b. mine price in 1913 was
$3.50, with the labor cost averaging
$1.62.
Whereas the labor cost per ton has
increased las per cent in 10 years
the mine sale prices has increased
slightly over 200 per cent--from
$3.50 to $S-$S.35.
The proportionate cost of labor
as represented in the mine sale price
has decreased from 616 per cent tC
59.5 per cent.
In considering the increase Of labor
costs, however, the commission EN-
phasizes two important points.
/. That only a part of the increas
ed cost of production per ton is due
10 increased wage scales, a part be
ing attributed to changed physical
conditions in the mines, such a!
mining Of seams which formerly
were considered too poor to work
etc
2. That the purchasing power Of
the dollar in 1928 is about 20 pei
cent less than in 1918.