Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-03-13

2,77l SOB So, ,293, 1856 3,O95, ,935s1O, ,492, 1893
*Part of the year 1878 the duty was rs cent
The above table shows that Incorporation
of foreign coal is increasing rapidly from
1878 (when the duty was reduced to IS cents)
to 1882 it has nearly doubled. 1t also shows
that on this increased quantity in 1882, the
rcpenue collected by the government under
the duty of IS cents, tcdS not as much as the
revenue collected in 1872 on little more than
one-half the quantity when the duty was 81. 1.25.
We beg to remind the committee of the
fact that the bituminous Goals Of Pennsyl-
vania Maryland, Virginia and West Vir-
glnia, brought to tide, are used entirely for
steam purposes and the manufacture of gas,
etc. they are not at all used for domestic
purposes.
Anthracite, which is duty free and has no
foreign competitor, occupies entirely the do
mestic fuel field, and will not in any way be
affected by duty, or no duty, on bitumnous
GOALS Nor will the tariff on bitumnous Goals
i'll any way affect the price of that conf
modify anywhere but on the seaboard; for,
owing to the cost of transportation, no foreign
Goals are used so miles inland from tide.
If it is contended that the period has ar
rived when it has become necessary to make
general reduction in our import duties, we
beg leave to call attention to the fact that in
1878, when general reduction of 10 per cent.
was made the reduction on coal was 40 per
cent; thus anticipating by II years-on that
article-the general reduction which some
now urge has become necessary.
We beg you to consider well if it is wise to
disturb this important industry by the pro-
posed legislation-to check the growth and
development which each year is adding to
the general prosperity-decrease the immi-
grafton of hardy miners and workmen from
Great Britain and the Continent, and impair
the prosperity of thousands of the same now
among us-do injury to our coasting trade
and inland transporters-when no cause for
complaint or demand exists for such action
on the part of the consumer, whose true in
terests lie in the continued development of
our owm coal tields-and when the only good
Gf indeed it can be considered good) such
action will accomplish, will be to increase the
profits of the investors in the mines of the
British Provinces; profits already three-fold
larger than accrue to those who are engaged
in the working of our home coal fields.
Can Congress feel itself called upon, after
the injustice done this interest by the tariff
of 1873 to abolish, or again make reduction
in the inadequate duty IAN average of about
20 per cent? allowed it under the present
tariff. We earnestly urge your committee
to reinquish all idea of doing so great an in
jury to so important an interest, with nothing
whatever to compensate for the intliction.
Hon. Louis f. McComas, who intro
duced the gentlemen, then read the
resolutions of the Frostburg meeting,
as published last week, and introduced
the delegates.
The Baltimore Sun says:
Mr.. Edwards was questioned by various
members of the committee.
Representative Mills asked how much was
paid per ton for mining coal.
Mr.. Edwards replied that 40 cents was the
average price, and if allowed to do so the
average miner could mine five tons per day.
!M. .NMs-"The miner receives 40 cents
per ton for his work and the operator gets
1926 for it in Baltimore"
In answer to various questions from Rep
resentatives Breckenridge, of Kentucky
Brown, of Indiana, and Mckinley, of Ohio
Mr.. Edwards said the proposed reduction OH
coal would necessarily reduce the amount O,
labor and also seriously affect the wages OF
the miners. There is sufficient coal in this
country to supply all demands, one of the
greatest difficulties being that the supply is
greater than the demand, and therefore the
miners are only allowed toSmake hall. time
He also said that the constant immigration
of foreign miners has been one of the serious
draw backs to the mining industry. There
are now more laborers than there is employ
mcnt for them, consequently reduction OF
wages follows. He suggested that if more
manufactures were opened out there would
be greater consumption of coal, and give
more employment to the miners.
Messrs Schcllenberg and II. I. Williams
indorsed what Mr.. Edwards stated.
BreUities.-The Coal Trade Journa
hews close to the line of truth when,
quoting from contemporary, 1t says
"that 'in the mints they make money
without advertising, but the men who
own mints are few and the balance OF
those who would reap the golden har.
vest must resort to advertising in order
to let buyers and consumers know then
residences and the commodities they
have to sell. 1t is a matter of fact
that those who have built up phenom-
email trades and manufacturing estab,
lishments, who have converted the
forests and prairies into blooming
cities and industrial centres, who have
dotted the waters OF our oceans, lakes
and rivers with vessels filled with
their various sorts of wares and