Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-01-05
NOW STEALING
COAL SUPPLY
Trade Complains TO Rail
roads After Thefts Be-
come Frequent
INDEPENDENTS
BOOST PRICES

IhettG OF coal from cars II tran
ST 20 Wilmington. are becoming so
numerous as TO arouse protests from
local delaers. One local company
has made formal complaint 70 the
railroads and has been promised
strlcter policing.
As much as six to seven tons
have been missed from cars carry
ing forty tons, # was stated today.
When u is considered that a ton Is
selling anywhere from s12 70 t14.25,
such a loss is viewed as serious.
Not only ts coal being pilfsred
from cars in transit from the mines
10 Wilmington. but II IL charged
that II is being taken in quantities
from cars standing in the railroad
Yards IN 1he city itself One dealer
said that some families make reg
ular practice Of raiding cars and
getting supplies for their homes.
What he rated far worse, hoTever,
he said. was discovery that some
of the coal stolen had been ped
died In i00-pound bag lots at good
prices.
We are having enough trouble
obtaining shipments Of coal re-
marked this dealer. without los (
ing It by thefts which cut heavily /
into the costs"
Speaking Of costs. several dealers {
saw they are not making cent OF .
profit on coal az present because Z
prices Al the Independent mines /
have been lacked up so sharply ~ I
late as to make handling Of their ,
coal unprohtable. About one-half .
the anthracite used in Wilmington +
comes from Independent mines in .
Pennsylvania. and the other half
from the allied companies or trust.
We're the dealers 70 refuse TO buy
from the Independents the city
would be hard nit, the dealers de-
clare.
In an effort 70 check the boost
Ing OF prices by Independent oper-
ators. the Pennsylvania state Fuel
has issued a new table
OF charges These charges range
from 1925 70 s12 ton, according
10 the overhead expense Of the vari-
ous collferies. The prices for the in
have been subject OF
much discussion by the Pennsyl-
yania state Fuel Commission and
we're set only where more than 1925
,as been charged.
A local dealer said he doubted
very much II the Coal Commission
latest price scheme would be OF ]
much good for the reason that the
Independents are charging pretty
much what they please and are pay /
ng little or no attention TO the CON- ]
Missions rulings. He told Of re- I
sewing notices within the past few
lays from Independents raising !
prices from 1925 20 $40 and over.
yet, what are we going to do 20
supply our trade?" he queried The
public demands coal and we are sup
posed TO supply it."
Somewhat similar conditions pre- I
yailed in the winter OF 1902 when {
he great anthracite strike was IN Z
progress. incidentally. this strike 5
vas settled finally by a Federal Coal q
Commission OF which former Judge I
cray Of this city, was the head. {
We are hopeful that such condi- l
ions as now prevail will not occur
gain for another twenty-year per- :
3D." the dealer said. J
Allowing that the cost Of coal az 7
he mines Is 1925, dealers point out {
hat charge Of s3.I5 a ton must
re added for haulage by the rail-
Dads. That makes $3.50 a ton,
Without any allowance for handling
nd distribution, particularly in view
4 the necessity Of weighing out {
hree-quarters OF a ton of anthra- ]
lite. then going 10 the bins contain {
ng substitutes and adding a quar- {
err OF a ton, as ordered by the Del s
ware State Coal Commission.
Receipts Of anthracite again have {
lackened the past several days. and 4
callers are busy tracing cars en-
cute to the city, which have been 8
elayed, "lost" through re-routing. |
r some other unforeseen c!rcum-
tances. :
sharp eye is being kept on wealth 4
r conditions for fear a blizzard may :
lie up the railroads and halt re-
eipt of supplies.