The St. Louis Republic., 1902-11-02

In all the recent experience OF the anShra-
cite coal operators. the miners strike. now
practically closed. has been the longest, as
it has been the most costly
To find anything comparable in either
particular it would be necessary to revert
to the trying experiences Of the decade be-
tween 1870 and 1880
Since then, however, not only the guam
tity Of production. but the conditions of
operation have changed SO radically that
the instruction to be had from comparison
would at best be but slight.
The inquiry. further. would cast but small
light on what the present strike has cost,
and from the financial side that Is the most
important point of all.
II, on the contrary, comparison between
this year and 1901 be undertaken, on the as
sumption that in the present era Of prosper
ity the coal business of last year was no
year, had the mines been working full
time there is a quantity Of exact material
available for the inquiry.
Four OF the hard-cOal mining and carry
ing companies-the Erie. Ontario and West
ern, Susquehanna and Central OF New Jer-
eey rairoad cempanies-have reported their
gross and net earnings for each of the first
four months the strike was on. Two more
the Reading and Lehigh Valley compa-
nies-have reported for every month but
June.
based on the average Of losses in the
of the anthracite coal roads, controlling 70
per cent, more or less. of the total tonnage,
earned in May to August. inclusive, SAL
The five months decrease, supposing
than the average Of the preceding four
Losses OF THE COMPANIES.
Surprising that the two other Companies,
the Delaware and Hudson. and Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, which together
controlled about q per cent of the output
in 1Sss-1S0O. lost in the same proportion, the
total loss in net n sui eeon 6y yoe 1he
be estimated conservatively at $1i .537 coo.
Substantially the same result is obtained by
s be pro Of on ali sizes Of
cite delivered at the markets and falling
OFF in production Of about 2oo00oo tons
during the five months of the strike.
Such figures are far from measuring the
whole loss caused by the strike.
The two principal items outside of the de-
crease in net earnings from the results of
normal year-the injury, namely, to mines
and machinery. and the permanent hurt
done the market for anthracite @ M o,o ooo -.
ably comes nearer to the setback received
by the various hard-coal properties. con-
res. al in pee Of loss to
railroads in earnings" and &. 500 600 dam
age to mines and machinery" which serve
as items in Wiikesbarre dispatches show
ing the community generally as $146, $4,000
to the bad. through the strike.
Inquiry among the principal operators in
damage has been inflicted by flooding of
the mines
The deterioration Of the mechanical plant.
they say, has been but little greater; but
little. If any, more rapid than If the various
installations had been continually in use.
pected to show men. mules and machines
less efficient after long idleness than they
were just before mining was stopped.
TIL cle2ning-up process will also take
time, and two weeks or more will probably
pass before, with full forces. full production
will be in swing. Bur what less this will
cause 1t is hardly possible yet to tell.
EFFECT On CONSU dERS.
What changes five months stoppage of
supplies has worked in the habits of fuel
consumers. who formerly affected anthra-
cite is also in great part, question to
which 5he future alone can reply.
It is TO be noted nevertheless that apart
from a restriction in the provision of coal
for kite hen stoves and water heaters during
the wafm season, the domestic trade of the
ing Interference.
wintfr stocks viii not be slowed IN cellars