The evening times., 1899-08-31
SOFT COAL PRODUCTION.
Operators In the Georges Creek RI
zion VIII Not Advance Wages.


Operators In the Georges Creek Re-
gion VIII Not Advance Wages.
CUMBERLAND, Md, Aug 31-The coal
shipments from the Georges Creek-Cum-
berland region for the week ended Sat
urday, August 26, by rail aggregated 76,-
373.01 tons and by Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal 7,512.03 tons, making the total out
put SO. .885.04 tons. or 1.312.06 tons less
than during the corresponding week of last
year. For the year to August 26 the ship
ments were 1890. 60S.O9 tons, an increase
of Isl. .072.94 tons compared with the ship
ments for the same period of 1898. The
shipments by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
aggregate 116. .773.0s tons. 17,241.14 tons less
than last years record for the same Pc
riod.
OF the output to August 26, 1885. $40. 10
tons were delivered to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad and local points. an increase
of sc, ,303.O7 tons, and S0S. .194.11 tons to the
Pennsylvania Railroad, an increase of 49,
011.01 tons, compared with last year. Dur
ing the week q, ,343-08 tons Of coal and
1882. .04 tons of coke were shipped from the
Elk Garden and Upper Potomac region OF
West Virginia, the total output for the
year being $50, 5,0s0.19 tons of coal and 164.-
053.02 tons of coke, an increase of 1885,
257.04 tons of coal and an increase of q
17418 tons of coke, compared with the
record for the same periad OF 1898.
An attempt is being made to organize
associations of United Mineworkers in the
Cumberland region, several organizers now
being among the miners. Some meetings
have been called. The possibility OF a
strike seems farther in the distance than
ever. The miners have big veins TO work
and with steady employment their earn
ings are about as large as those paid in
any Eastern field. Trade in the far East
holds up well. while transportation from
| mines TO tide continues good.
The mine operators of the Georges Creek
region In statement signed by the presi-
dents OF the various coal companies have
replied to the request of the miners for an
| increase of 10 cents per ton. saying that it
will be impossible to grant it and meet
| competition from the Virginia field where
| cheaper labor is employed. II is claimed
| that because OF the cuts in prices made
by the Virginia operators the price of coal
| at tidewater Is now 10 cents less per ton
| than it was April 1. 1886, yet the mining
| rate Of 40 cents a ton-voluntarily in
| creased from 40 to 45 cents at that time
remains the same. The operators in their
| reply also contend that with an Increase
| in the mining rate 1t would be impossible
to meet Virginia competition, Virginia coal
| being as good. and the result would be a
| decrease in the output and a consequent
| decrease in the amount of employment
| The prosperity of both operators and min
ers depends upon large output and the
regularity Of its distribution. The compa-
nies have been successful in maintaining
both conditions. despite seyerest competi-
ton. 1t is further contended that, wage:
once advanced, the price of coal would
have TO be increased and competition would
be out Of the question. The reply state:
that the large trade which has been bull
up the past three years by modern mining
methods. including the substitution By
some companies of seagoing tugs for uncer-
tain sailing vessels. would leave this re-
gion, and adds: Not only would the
miner who might be fortunate enough tC
get employment have less OF it, and con-
sequently earn a smaller wage for month
or year, even though he get a larger rate
per ton. but a number of the miners il
the region would necessarily be thrown
out of employment. Such condition would
also reduce the traffic over the railroads in
the region. and, as a consequence, deprive
many OF the employees of the railroads Of
the employment"