CHÉRON LIFE
Fire will be unaffordable this winter

Here is autumn, stoves and grills will soon be lit... But the fire will be expensive this year, more expensive than last year, when it was already not cheap...
I wish readers. of the Work, those of. Fewer who were able to do so did not wait until today to stock up on coal. I was only too right, alas! advising them to make their fuel purchases as quickly as possible.
Here, in fact, is English anthracite between 406 and 410 francs per thousand kilos, compared to 340 francs last year, at the same time. The “grains” have risen to even greater proportions. The 1000 Kilos, which were worth 269 francs, reached 346 francs. This difference is due to the fact that a large number of heaters which burned the anthracite “nut”, which was already very expensive last year, have been transformed so as to consume the “grain”. Its use has thus increased considerably, hence the current increase. At least that’s the explanation given by specialists. Was it the increase in anthracite in Wales that led to the increase in other fuel species? It is possible, although for them we cannot decently invoke the voltage of the heating. In any case, here still for 1,000 kilos, the price of democratic cannonballs has increased, since September 1922, from 163 francs to 244 francs, almost 50% more expensive.
Brave housewives, who have a bag of cannonballs brought to your home by the local bougnat, you will pay 12 francs for it. 40 instead of 8 fr. 15! To think that the cob saved the franc! But that's not all. Coals for kitchens and grills have also seen a very significant increase. The medium size is worth 292 francs compared to 238, and I read in the circular from a large fuel house that this species is in short supply. The “sparrow’s head” for stoves and small furnaces costs 306 francs instead of 245. Coal for central heating increases in the same proportions.
Since anthracite, cannonballs, coal are at similar prices, we will make coke fires, you will answer me. I don't recommend it, the increase is fantastic: coke n°0 per hectoliter 11 francs instead of 0fr. 85; n° 1: 10 fr. 95 instead of 6 fr. ; the big one 10 fr. 90 instead of 6 fr 65; finally, the gresillon, 10 fr. 50 against 5 fr. 75. Fortunately, there is wood! You think ? Here are the prices, still per thousand kilos: a line, 176 francs versus 142; two lines, 180 against 143; three lines, 184 against 145.
Why this increase in wood? Because our beautiful forests burned this summer? Rather out of sympathy with the rise in coal. Finally, there are the charcoals: the ember for lighting the fires is now worth 14 francs per 25 kilo bag, instead of 8 francs. 75; the medium, 16 francs instead of 10, and the large, the one used by plumbers, 18 francs instead of 11 francs. 25. Here are the prices ladies, here are the prices! Excuse me for not being able to give you the price of Ruhr coal, only Mr. Poincaré knows what they cost us.

HENRI GÉROULE