Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-26
THE FREE COAL QUESTION.
A Plea in the Interests OF the Coal
Miners and Nine Owners, as Well As

A Plea in the Interests OF the Coal
Miners and Nine Owners, as Well As
Consumers.
To the Eli tor Of ne Nfg York Herald:
Having read several editorials In the
Herald on the subject OF free coal, from
the standpoint of reduction in price 20
the consumer, be TO present differ
ent view OF the case, showing that coal
ought 10 be free in order to put the
coal Industry on a better footing, from
which would follow q more uniform
and q fairer price to the consumer.
With coal selling from 60 cents TO 81
per ton al the mines, surely the average
price is too low, when 1t Is considered
that coal costs on cars at the mines
from 60 cents TO 90 cents.
NECESSITIES OF LABOR.
Let me insert here that this variation
In cost and price is the seat OF labor
troubles, so far as the coal industry Is
concerned, aud labor would not quarrel
so much with what II receives per ton
II il prod uced tons all the year round,
instead OF half the year. Labor has 10
exist the idle half Of the year as well as
the busy half. The great Democratic
doctrine OF tariff reform is based on the
theory that home industries are at pres
ent congested by oyerproduction, en-
failing combines or trusts, by which
production is restricted, and conse-
ouently rise 10 prices 10 order to pay
interest on idle capital. Extended
market is properly supposed TO consume
more product, which will permit this
idle capital to earn its own interest, and
give employment TO idle hands.
UNIQUE POSITION OF THE SOFT COAL
INDUSTRY.
The mining Of soft coal is one OF the
industries Of this country that, upon
examination, will be found to occupy q
unique position.
First-The great soft coal area lies
between the Allegheny and Rocky
mountains. and is cut of from the sea-
board, except relative small tonnage
from mines on the eastern edge. These
latter are the mines that clamor for
protection, being scared oy the Nova
Scotia bugaboo.
Second-The market OF this coal is
confined to its own aaea Of deposit.
Third-There is no combine or trust
10 soft coal, and from the nature Of the
case there can't-be.
Fourth-Capital is invested aud
mines are developed sufficient TO sup
ply double the demand in this area, or,
70 put il differently. the average mine
works only about half time during the
year.
Fifth-It follows in theory, which is
also practice. as every coal man Will
testify, that as sOon as q demand for
coal appears, large or small: each coal
region and each mine 10 each region
struggles for the privilege Of supplying
il, add they all wrangle like starved
wolves over a bone. 1t must follow
that the wolf who ge:s the bone finds
no meat on IL.
WORKING EALF TINE.
Here we see large industry working
bali time, with limited market, and
no profit on the one hand. and labor
struggling for sufficient wages on which
TO exist, on the other.
The soft coal operators Of Western
PENNSYLVANIA will tell you that their
natural market on the Southern Ohio
and Mississippi rivers has teen destroy
ed by mines more accessible, with
shorter and less dangerous Transports
ton.
SORT COAL INDUSTRY coSGEsTED BY
ovERPRoDUcTIOS.
The soft coal industry Is badly con-
Qested by over2rOduction-
More than half the vast capital in
vested must be abandoned and lost 10
make The balance good. aud mine labor
must continue 70 suffer or = remedy
must ee found.
A combination or trust when would
cus OF one-nalf Of the supply and de-
mani price on the other half SUN
Gent 20 pay interest on the whole cap
gtal. is nearly impossible. owing 10 tia
vide dIfusion OF the coal
Why LABoRIxG NES SHOULD HATE
TRUSTS
Just here ies ne say thas labor,
man ought TO hate atrnst thai rsstri