Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1918 — A LITTLE MORE ABOUT COAL PRICES. [ARTICLE]

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT COAL PRICES.

The reference to local coal prices in Saturday’s Democrat were the words of a reputable citizen of Rensselaer who was in Francesville a few days before and said that he had obtained the figures given from Mt. Maxwell, manager of the Farmers’ elevator at that place, who wrote all the figures out for him bn a priinted heading of this elevator, and that he —the Rensselaer gentleman—never made a scratch on the paper. These figures were precisely as published and we believe that they were made on the sheet —which The Democrat has in its possession —by Mr. Maxwell precisely as stated. This gentleman also said that he had quite a little talk with Mr. Maxwell regarding coal prices and that there were several other people “in the elevator office at the time. The prices quoted, however, were for the coal at the bin or car, and not delivered. When’ delivery was made 25 cents per ton was added to the 70 cents profit, making 95 cents altogether. * But, as in the case of Jasper county’s conscription board, when Mr. Maxwell found what they were getting at other places, the price was evidently advanced, as when The Democrat called him on the ’phone yesterday he admitted making the figure/ but said in the $2.80 per ton coal —which is Screened coal, practically none of which we get here —should have been the $2.35 grade, or mine run, as we understand, as he could not get the $2.80 grade. He said for the $2.80 grade they get $5.75 at the bin, when they had it, and if delivered 40 cents additional for delivery—an advance of 15 cents per ton for delivery over the price given the Rensselaer citizen on January 27. Now ■so far as The Democrat personally is concerned it has paid the prices asked here without quibbling. It is like one going to the surgeon for an urgent operation —he pays the price because he has to have it done. We have had coal here to meet most of the demands, it is true, and we are glad of it. But the dealers have gotten the prices.

It is but following its natural instincts for the Republican, whose editor was formerly in the coal business here and has privately stated to different people that too much profit was now being made but" that “everyone was doing it," to rush to the defense of these excessive profits. The county fuel administrator recently fixed the price of Linton No. 4 lump delivered at $6 per ton — but how much Linton No. 4 has been received here? Practically all has been mine-run and much of this a mighty pobr run, too. put the consumer had to havd it, poor as it was, qnd was glad to get it. This latter fact, however, doesn’t alter the case in the least as to profits. The ex-coal dealer editor says that every car that comes in here is from three to nine tons short and the dealer has to stand this shortage—caused by coal being stolen in transit. Now he doesn’t believe this nor does anyone else. Some cars are short,, to be sure, hut many cars come in with no evidence of a pound

having been stolen off them, and the railroad company is responsible for shortages if one is a mind to go after it. So far as the delivery in small lots is concerned, it admitted that this is an added iterin to some extent, but it has been the custom to take two or three lots at one time in making these smaller deliveries, and- there are scores olf deliveries in half-ton and ton lots and more. Another thing, the fuel administrator —on the representations of the dealers —allowed 35 cents per ton for binning, when as a matter of fact 10 cents was the price paid .shovelers for scooping the coal from the car to the bin. Since the publication of this allowance, however, the shovelers demanded an increase in price and now get 15 cents, we are told. There was also allowed 25 cents per ton for shortage and 50 cents per ton for delivery. As practically no coal has been binned since this schedule went into effect, should not the 35 cents per ton for binning be rebated to the consumer? The price fixed for Indiana minerun, such as perhaps 90 per cent Or more of this coal received here has been since the fuel administrator’s prices went into effect, was $5.50 per ton after allowing 35 for binning—which was not done —therefore, how has the $6 price Tor minerun. come about? Every man in business is entitled to a legitimate profit, bu£ inlthe coal business from producer down, it seems, advantage has been taken of a condition brought about by the mine operators and railroads last summer, and the .public, as usual is the goat. The gentleman who came to The Democrat with his figures last week, admits that he doesn’t know all about the other fellow’s business, nor even all about the coal business, but does know considerable about the latter from personal knowledge and Information gained from dealers themselves, and he naturally resents being called a liar or an imbicile for giving a little of this information to the publie.