The times., 1899-05-11
MINE OPERATORS TESTIFY.
The Coal Industry in Pennsylvania
and Ohio Discussed

and Ohio Discussed
The Industrial Commission yesterday
examined two coal mine operators. r. G.
Brooks, of Scranton, Pa. representing
large interests in the anthracite coal re-
gions. and Walter ]. Mullin, of Ohio, who
is interested in several mines in that
State.
individual operators in the anthracite
regions OF Pennsylvania are greatly at
disadvantage, according to Mr.. Brooks, be-
cause of the many railroad companies
Which are interested in mining. Special
freight rates are made for the company
miners which makes competition almost
impossible. Owing TO the limited demand
for anthracite coal as compared with the
capacity of the mines. Mr.. Brooks said
1t was impossible for miners TO find en-
ployment during the entire year Mr.
Brooks thought that the organization of
labor had operated TO give stability TO the
industry, although he thought it had not
raised wages in the anthracite region.
Mr.. Mullin, of Ohio, testified in the
afternoon. Trades unions he said, had
been beneficial particularly in the mining
industry. 1t gave stability TO the industry,
and operated to the benefit of both the
workInen and the operator. He thought
that the operators, as a rule, were Sener-
ally in favor of arbitration, but that the
miners themselves seemed TO be little
afraid Of this form of settlement of
labor dispute The miners in his mines
were generally whites, and native born
Americans. Their wages were paid semi
monthly. The average wage of the miner
in his mines was about $3.50 a day, but
throughout the State it would average
about S1.75 a day. and the average Yearly
time worked was from 200 to 225 days.
In some districts he did not think a man
i
make. The wages are now generally paid
in money and not by store orders.
The only penalties imposed on the miners
by the operators are for sending out what
is called dirty COAL As rule, through
out the State the miners rent houses. Mr..
Mullin has been actively engaged in min
ing for the past fifteen years, and it was
his opinion that the wages had decreased
y 1-2 per cent in that time. As 10 the
material condition of the miners he could
not see any Improvement, but there was
a constant educational improvement. The
industry is not in a satisfactory state. The
price of coal is too low and wages too
small. His company turned out between
five and six hundred thousand tons last
year. The average cost of getting out the
coal was sI.10 ton. 1t is sold at about
s1-30. This coal is retailed at $3.50 per
ton. About 60 cents OF this is for transport
tation and the rest the profit of the retail
dealer.
Where the railroad company own their
own mines they fix rates in bidding for
large contracts which shut out indiyid-
ual operators.
West Virginia coal mines have come into
active competition with those of Ohio, and
the witness said that cheaper transporta-
tion rates were made by the railroad COM
panies from the West Virginia mines 10
the lakes than could be obtained from the
Ohio operators. aliho Ugh the haul in the
latter case Is the shortest. AT present
there are 10 trusts in the bituminous coal
industry. The eight-hour day which is in
vogue in Ohio has been beneficial in all
ways. If a law could be passed by the
different States which would place the
different districts on an equal basis in the
markets it would be a great benefit. To
do this the regulation of transportation
would be an important factor.
The investigation into the trusts and
monopolies of the country will be taken
up today. ]. W. Lee. State Senator rep
resenting the Pittsburg district in Penn
sylvania, will be the first witness on this
subject. Mr.. Lee has been employed as
counsel against the Standard Oil trust in
Ohio, and is expected TO be strong wit
ness against such organizations.