The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-20
The Strike and
The Coal Market
From the Chicago Times-Herald.

From the Chicago Times-Herald.
The termination of the big coal strike
will furnish occasion for numerous homi-
letiCs on the enormous cost of the strug-
gle and the foolishness of the strike meth
Cd of compelling an adjustment of labor
disputes. That the cost of the strike
was enormous admits of no denial. 1t
was estimated a few days ago by Presi-
dent Ratchford at $S,000,OOO. From 100000
to $4,000 miners were out of work in the
states of Pennsylvania, OHIO, West Vir-
ginia, Indiana and Illinois. If the men
averaged so cents day while at work the
actual loss in wages would amount TO
from $2,S00000 to $3,500,0O0, This estimate
takes no account of the general expenses
of maintaing the siege, which must in
clude salaries of la Dor leaders" and agi-
tators and maintenance Of the families
of the idle miners.
1t is well to observe, however, that any
method Of computation by which it is
sought to arrive al safe conclusions re-
specting the losses sustained by labor
which is not based upon actual market
conditiCn ms is apt to be fallacious, 1t is an
easy problem in mathematics to estimate
the losses in wages by figuring the aver
age daily wages earned and the number
| of men engaged in the strike. That is the
common method of calculating the losses
such method is based on the presump-
tion that il the men had not struck they
would have had employment all the year
at the average wage scale that was in
force VIXEN the supension was ordered.
That this is not a correct basis of calcu-
lation is easily aScertained by reference
to the condition OF the coal market. The
price of coal, like that OF any other COM
| modify, is a question of supply and de-
mand. 1t fellows therefore that the prices
| for mining it will be controlled to a con-
| siderable extent by the same law.
Statistics of the coal mining industry in
dicate a great overproduction of coal and
a surplus of mining labor The annual
| consumption of bituminous coal is placed
| at two hundred milion tons, while the
yearly production IL the present force of
miners was employed every working day
| in the year would reach six hundred mil
lion tons. That bituminous coal is han
| died by the operators and dealers at a
very close margin 1t we'll known. The
| coal is fit only for fuel. 1t cannot be
| worked up in food for human beings or
| for cattle. After being taken from the
earth there is a gradual deterioration in
| it's combustible properties. In other
words, it will not keep" 1t is true that
| the wages paid previous to the strike
were barely sufficient to prevent starva-
ton. The state inspector of mines of
| Ohio reported the average earnings of a
pick miner in Ohio in 1896 to be only $22l. 50
a year, of $lS.46 per month. But none of
the mines were run fun time, the average
working time reported being 151 days, or
less than half time,
| %
| Those who are familiar with the exact
conditions that prevail In the bltuminous
| coal market maintain that n suspension
of mining operations was inevitable. AT
the low price of bituminous coal 1t was
not possible to keep the mines in opera
ton much longer. If this is true the
statement that the miners lost so many
millions by the recent strike needs quail
| fication. 1t is not possible to lose that
which you do not possess. AS a result OF
the two months suspension of productive
activity, the surplus product will have
been marketed at advanced prices, and
the miners will again resume operations
at a slightly advanced wage scale. In the
meantime the mathematicians should fig
ure out some practical plan for placing
the bituminous mining industry on basis
that will leave a fair margin for the op-
orators and the miners after the freights
are paid.