Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-23
Contention of the Railroads.


1.-THE railroad presidents contend that they
cannot increase wages without making
corresponding increase in the selling price
of their product to the consumer, and have
accused the mine workers Of suggesting q
proposition that would impose a hardship
upon the public by increasing the market
price of coal ten cents a ton, the amount
that would have been required to meet all
the demands made by the miners However,
their solicitude for the public veal has not
deferred them from advancing the market
price of their coal more than 81 per ton
since the strike was inaugurated, without
giving any part Of their increase to the
mine workers.
I'm substantiation of our claim that the
coal companies can afford to pay increased
wages to the mine workers without in
creasing the cost of coal to consumers, We
submit the following extracts from the gov
eminent reports, showing the selling value
Of coal loaded on cars at the mines for
eleven years, beginning with 1890 and end
ing with 1900, as compared with 1901. The
average home value of all coal mined and
sold during this period was 81 .4S per ton,
while a press bulletin recently issued by
Charles d. Walcott, director Of the United
States geological survey, says that for the
year 1901 the increase in the value Of the
anthracite product received at the mines
showed a gain of 27.746, 1850, more than
81 per cent over that of 1900. The average
price for the marketed anthracite coal-that
local trade-was 81 S7, the highest figure
obtained since 1885,
I'm other words, while, according to
President Olyphant, 13 cents per ton rep
resents the operators increased cost of
production in 1901, 80 cents per ton, as COM
pared with 1900, represents the Increased.
value of the product to the operators. In
view of the fact that this enormous 1ncrea Sc
in the selling price of coal has been ex-
torted from the consumer by the coal trust
can any one say that the demands of the
miners for a small portion of the increased
wealth their labor has produced are I'M
reasonable or unwarranted?
Able to Pay More Wages
Further evidence of the ability of the
coal mine operators to pay increased wages
is found in the sworn testimony Of Mr.. John
Markle. managing partner of the G. B.
Markle Coal Company. This firm operates
the three mines in the Lehigh region, and is
known as an independent operator. In the
supreme court of Pennsylvania, in re Mar
kle VS.. Wilbur, Pennsylvania State REPORTS
page 200. John Markle was sworn, and dur.
ing his testimony swOre that he was ap-
pointed superintendent manager by the
| articles of cOpartnership at salary Of 49,
900 per year, and that under his manage
ment from 1890 to 1894, inclusive the part
nership made large profits of over $1,000
go
~"During the five years referred to by Mr..
Markle the government reports show that
the home value Of coal produced by the an
tfIra cite coal companies was Isl per ton.
If the G. B. Markle Company could make a
profit of over 81 ,0o0, GOO In five years, when
| the selling price Of their coal at The mines
| was 1.51. does 1t not seem reasonable to
suppose that the larger eompanies-wnose
cost of production is necessarily less-could
make a sufficient profit in 1901, when the
| home value of their coal was @1.S7 per ton.
to enable them. without detriment to their
business, to pay the anthracite mine work
ers the small pittance asked for by ,hem?
| In his annual report to the directors of
his company President Truesdale of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western says in
substance: The year 1901 will pass into his
tory as. one Of the most satisfactory If not
| the banner year for the anthracite coal in
terests of this country. The tonnage mined
purchased and handled was much greater
| than any previous year in the history of
| the company. The rate per ton per mile
earned on coal hauled was S.91 mills. The
| present outlook is favorable for an indefi-
mite continuance of these favorable condi-
TONS
THE Commercial and Financial Chron-
| icle, commenting upon the report of Presi-
dent ELEPHANT Of the Delaware and Hudson.