Yo the Editor of the "Nontit-Ciwa Dany News"
Sm—For the benellt of the public let me say candidly that there is a shortage of coal in Shanghai other wise prices would never have gone 60 thigh as kindly pointed out by your Kailan coal was $1680 last year and it 45 selling to-day at $22 to §20 per ton retail price delivered, Hongay Anthracite coal for stoves and arcolas was solling at §28 per ton last year and Is now selling freely at $26 to 40 per ton, Shansi and Honan anthracite was $26 per ton last year and is now gelling at $38, per ton. Kitchen coal "rst quality" is selling at $26 per ton against, $20 last year. Dust and slack coal for steam purposes 1s sell Ing at $22 per ton against $14 last year, 'What T actually mean by a shortage is that while there may' be enough coal to fo round in Shanghai for winter consumption, stocks are much depleted and much' lower than they usually are, or even may have been reduced owing to the stoppage of free Imporiations during "the past hostilities, At present it 1s easy to sell all stocks of coals held by owners in Shanghai at a good profi, This isnot necessarily profiteering but taking advantage of a ready cash market instead of retailing out and thus standing to lose on such business.
Frelghts bu imports of coals and' other transportation charges have also risen enormously during the past three months, Shanghai, Nov, 5.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.