Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-23

plain, the mines were In operation 1894 X
days and there were produced 475 A.
tons for each person employed, or for
each day the mines were In operation
2.36 tons were produced per employe,
thus showing ooncluslyely that, in
stead Of deterioration, there was
decided Improvement In the productive
capacity of the men after they become
thoroughly organized Can the un-
prejudlced reflect upon these facts and
conclude that the anthracite miner is
a better workman than he was before
the 10 per cent concession In wages two
years ago?
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 proposition
that would impose hardship upon the
public by increasing the market price
OF coal 10 cents a ton, the amount that
would have been required 20 meet all
demands made by the miners. How
ever, their sollcltude for the public
veal has not deferred them from ad-
vancing the market price of their coal
strike was inaugurated without giving
any part OF the Increase to the mine
workers. In substantlation Of our claim
that the coal companies can afford to
pay Increased wages TO the mine work.
ers without Increasing the cost Of coal
TO the consumers, we submit the fol-
lowing extracts Of the government re-
ports showing the selling value Of the
Lon. Ii tl.a al Tg..
the eleven years beginning with 1890
and ending with 1900, as compared with
1901.
The average home value Of all coal
mined and sold during this period was
Sl,4s per ton, while a press bulletin
recently issued by Charles ID, Walcott,
director of the United States geolog-
ical survey says that for the year 1901
the increase In the value OF the an
thracite product received at the mines
showed a gain of $27 ,l69, or more
than 81 per cent over that Of 1900, The
average price for the marketed anthra-
cite coal, that IL, the product shipped
to market or sold to local trade, was
N.S7 the highest figure obtained
since 1888"
In other words. while according 10
President 0liphant 10 cents per ton
represents the operators increased
cost Of production In 1901 80 cents per
ton, as compared with 1900, represents
the increased value OF the product TO
the operator.
In other words, while, according TO
President Oiphant. 10 cents per ton
represents the operators Increased
cost OF production In 1901, 80 cents per
ton, as compared with 1900, represents
the Increased value Of the product to
the operator.
In view OF the fact that this enor-
nous increase I'm the selling price OF
coal has been extorted from the con-
sumner by the coal trust. can anyone
say that the demands of the miners for
small portion OF the Increased wealth
their labor has produced are unreason-
able or unwarrantable,
The statement says that further evil
dence OF the ability OF the coal mine
owners to pay increased wages, Is
shown in the statement OF John Mar
kle, managing partner OF the G. b.
Markle Coal company, an Independent
firm operating three mines In the
Lehlgh region, made IN a suit before
the supreme court of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Markle is quoted as saying that
the company in the FIVE years from 1890
to 1894 made profits Of over sl00O,O0O.
and the statement says the govern
ment reports show that the home
value OF coal produced by the anthra-
cite companies during that time was
81 81 a ton.
II the G.. r. Markle company could
make a profit OF over 100000 In Ave
years when the selling price OF their
coal NJ the mines was sl.5l, continues
the statement. does IL not seem rea-
sonable 10 suppose that the larger
companles-whose cost Of production Is
necessarily less-could make a suffi-
cient profit In 1901 when the home
value OF their coal was slS7 per ton
TO enable them without detrlment 10
their business TO pay the anthracite
mine workers the small plttance asked
for by them?
The statement then quotes President
Tuesdell Of the Delaware, Lackawan-
ma & Hudson, who, in his annual report