Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1917 — WILSON CUTS COAL PRICES [ARTICLE]

WILSON CUTS COAL PRICES

DRIVE AGAINST COAL BARONS WINS FOR THE PEOPLE. The following is the message of President Wilson setting a price scale for bituminous coal: “The following scale of prices is prescribed for bituminous coal at the mine in the several coal producing districts. It is provisional only. It is subject to reconsideration when the whole method of administering the fuel supply of the country shall have been satisfactorily organized and put into operation. Subsequent measures will have as their object a fair and equitable control of the distribution of the supply and of the prices not only at the mines but also in the hands of the middlemen and the retailers. The prices provisionally fixed here are fixed by my authority under the provisions of the recent act of congress regarding administration of the food supply of the country, which also conferred upon the executive control of the fuel supply. They are based upon the actual cost of production and are deemed to be not only fair and just but liberal as well. Under them the industry should nowhere lack stimulation.’’ The scale of prices on an f. o. b. mine basis for tons of 2,000 pounds follow. First column is Run of Mine. Second column is Prepared Sizes. Third column is Slack or Screenings; Pennsylvania . . $2.00 $2.25 $1.75 Maryland 2.00 2.25 1.75 West Va 2.00 2.25 1.75 W. Va. New River 2.15 2.40 1.90 Virginia 2.00 2.25 1.75 Ohio, thick vein ..2.00 2.25 1.75 Ohio, thin vein . .2.35 2.60 2.10 Kentucky 1.95 2.20 1.70 Ky., Jellico 2.40 2.65 2.15 Tenn. Jellico 2.40 2.65 2.15 Indiana 1.95 2.20* 1.70 Illinois 1.95 2.20 1.70 111. third vein. ... 2.40 2.65 2.15 The above is not the entire list as , fixed by the president! but is the list of all coals that come to Rensselaer. Rensselaer coal patrons have always demanded a high grade of bituminous coal. A very small proportion of the coal used here comes from Indiana mines and a still smaller amount from Illinois. The great bulk of the soft coal used here for domestic purposes comes from Ohio, Pennsylvania!, West Virginia and Kentucky. A small amount comes from Tennessee. Most of the coal used here is the prepared size, being screened egg or lump. The prices fixed by the president are very near the prices obtained before the unwarranted raise of coal prices in 1915. Dealers here should be able to make reasonable prices on all coals. These prices will have to be larger than they were before last year’s raise on account of the added expense in handling and in many cases increase in freight rates. It is understood that the president will appoint a coal administrator who will be empowered to control the distribution of coal and the retail prices. This will solve the price question but it will take the best management possible and a liberal supply of cars to get to the people sufficient coal for their use this winter.