The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-05

by Fire on Aug. 8, 1909, Is About
Rebuilt and will Soon Be Clean
ing Coal--Price of All Sizes of Coal
Has Gone UP in This City.
| Mining in this region has practically
resumed it's normal condition. The only
| collieries now idle are the Hallstead. of
| the Delaware, Lackawann nna and West
ern: the Fernwood. OF the Erie; the
Richmond No. 3 and Capouse washery,
Of the ontario and Western. and the
Riverside slope, of the Riverside Coal
company at Archibald.
All OF the thirty collieries of the Dela-
ware and Hudson company are now in
operation. The last two to be gotten
under way, the Plymouth No. s and the
Latin. turned out coal yesterday for
the first time. They were prevented
from starting up with the others by
reason of repairs being made. The work
OF laying new tracks at the Sloan and
Central collieries OF the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western company
was completed Monday. and yesterday
they began to ship coal. The only one
of the Delaware. Lackawanna and
Western places not working is the Hall
stead, at Duryea, which will probably
be abandoned. 1t was allowed to flood
during the strike and the company is
in doubt as to whether it will pay to
reopen it, as it is nearly worked out.
All of the Temple companys eight
places are also at work. The last to
be started up was the Northwest the
breaker which was destroyed by fire
December g. 1901. The new breaker was
completed last week. and coal was run
through it yesterday for the first time.
The Capouse washery of the Ontario
and Western company. which was de-
stroyed by fire August s, 1902. is nearly
rebuilt and will be in operation. it is
expected, in the course of week.
The Total Output.
The companies report that the output
is now in excess OF 80 Der cent. of the
normal and that practically all their
employees are back at work, excepting
those who were employed at the few
collieries still remaining idle.
The only colliery at which any large
number of non-union men Is still en-
ployed is the Oxford of the PEOPLES
Coal company. Less than 100 of the $50
old employees have been taken back.
However, all except sixty of the latter
have secured other employment.
District President Nichols stated yes
terday that in the First district there
are four hundred strikers, outside of
those who worked at collieries that
have not yet resumed, who are still
idle. Most of these, Mr.. Nichols de-
clares, are being blacklisted.
The mines worked full time and prac-
tically full-handed, yesterday, for the
first time in three days. The religious
holidays. Saturday and Monday, We're
observed by many of the roreign-speak-
ing miners and the tonnage in conse-
quence was largely decreased. Tomor-
row. it is expected there will be some
decrease in output, as is usual on the
day after election but from Thursday
on the companies count on a normal
output
The price of coal to local consumers
has gone up % and so cents Il ton as n
result of the strike. Pea coal, which
was selling for $3.50 a ton. delivered,
now costs 49, Chestnut egg and stove
COAL which formerly sold for $3.50 is
now selling for s3.75. Five years ago
pea coal sold for $l5O ton, and the
larger domestic sizes for $3.50 The ad-
vance was made by the companies.
Production Last Week.
Concerning the production for last
week, the Black Diamond says it Is
probable that it will not exceed 100000
tons. The trade. however. is not seri-
ously complaining as yet and probably
will not during the continuance of the
present mild weather. During the pres
ent week 1t is possible that production
may reach 10000 tons as against "A
normal production OF about 1000, 600
tons per week. With this quantity of
coal going forward it is more than like
ly that the influence of resumption will
be felt to greater extent than dur
ing the past week.
The anthracite companies have also
laid the foundation for their future
policy in the matter of distribution.
One of the largest has issued its cir
cular list al all of the important dis
tributing points. This list is so cents
higher than it-wOuld have been at this
time of the year under normal cond-
tions. 1t is understood that the ad-
vance applies to all domestic sizes.
While thus far only this one company
has issued the new list, it seems to he
Il common impression that all will sell
on uniform basis in the future as
they have in the past.
Some criticism has been offered con-
cerning the advance in list prices but
this is apparently not well founded.
Demand for this coal for some months
will run 50 much in excess of produce
tion that every effort should be made
to keep it within reasonable bounds.
Higher prices, it is argued, may reduce
the consumption slightly and thus may
be of benefit to the trade and the con-
sumers dependent upon this fuel. On
the other hand If the anthracite strike
commission should report an advance
in wages this would date from Nov. |,
and unless higher prices We're obtained,
on all new coal thar was produced,
operators would find that the resump-
tion of work had resulted I'm n reduc-
tion i'm profits,
Increase Not Great.
tpil