The age-herald., 1901-05-23
DEPRESSION IN COAL SITUATION General Complaint Throughout Birmingham District GREAT DECLINE IN DEMAND There Are Very Few Mines in This Part of the Country Working Full
 Time-smaII Concerns
 Hurt Worse.

A general complaint of the unusual de- pression In the coal demand has been made by the companies working mines in few weeks. Especially is this depression of the market felt at this time.
 Every summer there is a natural de- cline in the demand for coal. but this summer 1t Is being felt more than ever before in the history of mining in the Birmingham district At the present time there is hardly a mine in this part of the country working full time. The effects of the closing down of the mines or the de- itself felt among the miners with a pe- culiarly hurtful degree of strength.
 The depression is not felt so much by the larger mining companies as by the smaller ones, owing mainly to the fact that the larger companies are engaged in the manufacture of coke, and can conse- quently use their over-supply of coal in this work. The Tennessee Company Is suffering hardly at all and the Sloss-Shef- field Company Is barely feeling the ef- feet The latter company would probably iiOI DC dhoCtcu Ut dil put TOT the IaCL that one of its blasts Is not beingworked.
 The smaller mining companies are suf- fering, however, and the miners whom they have employed are suffering still more than are the owners. In many in- stances the smaller companies have been forced to reduce their mining forces, the number of hours of work, and materially AaCrea tho of hot Tn some cases they have been forced to even close the mines almost altogether.
 An Expert Talks.
 Tn talking of the situation, one of the most prominent mining experts and deal- CTS In the district yesterday said:
 T do not think there has ever been a time in the history of coal mining in this district when the effect of the general summer depression of the coal market has been felt so severely as 1t Is being felt every day now. For some time past the smaller companies have been com plaining of the falling off of demand-a falling off that was hardly precedented. These complaints have been continually increasing, and now there is hardly a company working full time, outside of the few large companies that can use their over-supply of coal in coking manufac- ture.
 "As a consequence the amount of mon- ey being put out on pay days is materi- ally less than amounts paid heretofore. even during the summer, yet the mine- owners are suffering considerably more than the mining workmen. The condition is now really alarming, for the smaller companies, and if there is not an increase of demand for the article several coal companies will be placed In a serious pre- dicament.
 "On top of all comes general decline in prices Yet with all the conditions, the miners are paid their full wages as per the Pratt scale of wages signed two years ago and renewed last year. hon estly think this one fact, coupled with the decline of prices. Is affecting some of the companies as much as is the de- cline of demand, for if any contracts are made to keep the mines running at all, serious cuts must be made in prices.
 "Just how long this condition will ex- ist or what will be the final result with respect to many of the small companies. 1t Is impossible to say, but it might be said that If there is not a change for the better manymore of the companies will be forced to close their mines en- tirely."