The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-20
An Intricate Problem.

presented in the present strike
n in the anthracite mine fields
observers at a distance need to
bear in mind that there are two classes
of mine operators-the individual oper-
ators, who own or lease coal properties,
invest large sums of money in ex-
pensive mining machinery and are de-
pendent not only upon the general
market conditions for the amount of
coal they can sell and for the price
they receive, but also upon the rail-
roads, which decide how many cars
they can have to carry their coal to
market and fix the selling price: and
the great carrying companies whose
excessite and unreasonable profit in
the fr6Sht haul to tidewater recoups
them for any losses incurred in their
coal departments.
1t is important to note this distinc-
ton for it will explain many things
otherwise difficult of comprehension by
the lay public. One of the things it
will explain is that the individual oper-
ators, whose interest and the interest
Of the men coincide in desiring steady
work in the mines with a selling price
for coal sufficient to enable the pay
ment of good wages to the mine work.
ers, are practically prohibited from
effecting any adjustment of the wage
problem which does not have the sane
ton of the railroads. The individual
operator who might be able to figure
In
after an advance in wages if he could
be assured of a large and steady out
put could under existing conditions
take 1t for granted that difference
in policy between himself and the rail-
road company doing his hauling would
soon reflect itself in his inability to
get cars.
Before there can be any consider
able permanent betterment of the con-
ditions of employment in the anthra-
cite industry two things must be
brought to pass and those people at
distance who rightly sympathize with
the miner must also get correct views
of the operators attitude and prepare
themselves TO help to bring on the
settlement. One of these things is that
the present indefensible high charge
of the railroads for hauling anthracite,
charge from three to five times as
much as is charged for the haulage Of
bituminous coal for corresponding, dis
tances, must be reduced to the level of
business equity; and the other is that
the public must be prepared to accept
an increased price for anthracite. The
first proposition is self-eVident and
needs no elaboration. The second ought
to be, for anthracite is a commodity of
limited quantity, not renewable, and
every ton sold makes the unmned ton
more valuable.
The miner who looks no further for
remedy of grievances than to the man
for whom he works is as liable to see
naughty president of a coal carrying
railroad whose knowledge of anthra
cite conditions is derived principally
from columns of statistics placed be-
fore" him by ingenious mathematlc-
ians. 1t is a question both broad and
intricate and solution of it is not to
be expedited by popular abuse of "coal
barons" because when coal prices are
low and freight charges are high the
barons cannot pay high wages and are
accused of rObhing their employees; and
because when the effort is made to
raise coal prices and reduce freight
charges so that the ability to increase
wages may be present without losses
in operation the barons are on the
other hand denounced for scheming to
rob the consuming public. Solution
cannot be reached without distribution
of the burden.