Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-23

ending with 1900, as compared with 1901.
The average home. value of all coal mined
am1 s Sbn during TINS PERIOD was Sis per
by Charles B.. Walcott, director of the
United States Geological Survey. says that
for the year 1901 1.-THE increase in the value
of the anthracite product received at the
mines showed a gain of ga, 746, 1863, or more
average price for the market anthracite
coal-that is, the coal shipped to market
or sold to local trade-was 81. 81, the high
est figure obtained since 1885,"
In other words, while, according to Presi-
dent Olyphant,. 10 cents per ton represents
the operators increased cost of production
in 1901, 80 cents per tomas compared with
19O0-represents the increased value of the
product to the operators. In view of the
selling price of coal has been extorted from
the consumer by the coal trust, can any
for a small portion of the increased wealth
their labor has produced are unreasonable
or unwarranted?
submits other Testimony.
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
known as an Independent operator. In the
Markle against Wilbur Pennsylyania State
sworn and during his testimony swore that
he was appointed superintendent or man.
dbtT ny ne dTIlCl6S Oh COpdTIneTSllD at n
his management, from 1890 to 1894. Inclusive,
the partnership, made large profits of over
1000, 000." During the five years referred
to by Mr.. Markie the government reports
show that the home value of coal produced
per ton. II the G.. B. Markie company
could make a profit of over 81, 100000 in five
years when the selling price of their coal
seem reasonable to suppose that the larger
companies-whose 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, with
out. detriment to their business, to pay the
anthracite mine workers the small pittance
asked for by them?
In his annual report to the directors
of his company President Truesdale of the
Delaware, Lackawanna q Western, says
"The year 1901 will pass into history as
one of the most satisfactory, II not the
banner year for the anthracite coal inter-
ests 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 SOL mills. The
present outlook is favorable for an in
dltions.'" aas
Quotes from Newspapers.
The Commercial and Financial Chronicle,
commenting upon the report of President
oIyPhs snt OF the nTb pel AWARE q o Fp sntSra rate c,te
selling prices for 1901 must lave been 30
to 40 cents higher. than in 1900, and the
profits Of the coal mining operations of
the Delaware & HUDSON In 1901 was ST.
40L307."
President Baer. the recognized spokesman
of the Coal trust, made the statement that
he was ready to submit the books of the
coal departments for our examination, In
Increased. This proposition. on the sur
face, appears reasonable, but when dis
sected and analysed 1t is positively absurd.
Elghty-hve or ninety per cent of all coal
produced IN the anthracite regions is from
mines owned and operated by the various
c~oal-carrying railroads; the freight charges
for hauling a ton of anthracite coal one
mile are three times as great as those of
other roads for hauling a ton of bituminous
coal coal S Gns time sno WINE a sStaeflg eSTn fns
enormous profits on a legitimate business
may and do appear to be losing money,
for the reason that the railway depart
ments absorb the profits of the coal de-
partments by charging the coal. depart
ments exorbitant freight rates. They thus
rob Peter to pay Paul. 1t cannot be said,
in ~extenuation, that there is any peculiar
necessity for this triple charge on hard
coal, for all other kinds OF freight-very
much more troublesome to handle and
more perishable-are carried at a far lower
In connection with this subject attention
Is respectfully directed to the fact that a
ton OF coal as the consumer understands
It Is not a ton of coal as the miner is paid
for It; that is to say, when the consumer
purchases a ton of coal he receives 2.24
pounds. a legal ton: when the railroad com
eeeive tarin upon S,Sso pounds 20 ds q le 1aGy to one
but when the miner is being paid for his
from 2,74O to $3.50 pounds for a ton, and Il
Is against this fragrant injustice that the
anthracite mine workers so vigorously and
course, that the excess weight is REQUIRED
to compensate them for impurities and
refuse matter that is loaded with the Goa
and cannot be marketed. But il their state.
ment is true, why is II necessary to con
tinue a system Of docking. by which al
miners earnings from 10 to 10 per cent OF
the total as a penalty for loading impuri.
him in excess OF weight? II must be OBJ.
vious to every intelligent observer that the
coal companies derive a considerable in,
come from the continuance of this system
Of measuring the earnings of their EN-.
ployes, as they thus receive a large amount
no compensation to the miners. The miners
have asked hat the coal they produce shall
be honestly weighed and correctely re-
This recital of facts disposes Of the
operators claim that they cannot afford Il
unceasing toll amid surroundings con.
stantly fraught with the ggavest danger.
Record of Fatalities.
The reports of the mine inspectors bureau
of the state of Pennsylvania show thai
during the last decade the average yearly
4S7, and that for the year 1901 there were
4S4 fatal and 1885 non-fatal accidents. This
| means mat lot every llS,OuO IONS OF Goa
brought TO the surface one person is killed
and more are seriously injured; II means
hat for each day the mines are in opera.
ton more than two persons lave sacrificed
their lives and more than five persons
have been injured. Indeed, II is a matter
of record that eight times as many men
and boys are killed and injured nnuaIl
in the anthracite coal mines OF Pennsyf
vania as were killed and wounded from
the American ranks in the Spanish-Ameri-
can war in Cuba. Yet, II one were TO credit
the stories that appear in the columns OF
the daily press IL would seem that the men
who daily risk their lives working In the
bowels of the earth were a lawless class.
who have no conception Of the duties of
American citizenship; that they have been
grossly maligned is proved by the records
OF the police courts and the testimony OF
tine chiefs of police departments In the four
largest mining communities In the anthra.
cite f~ields-namely, Scranton. Wilkesbarre.
HaZelton and Shamokin. The reports OF
these cities and the statements OF the
burgesses and the chiefs of police prove
that there has been less infraction OF the
law and fewer arrests during the time the
strike has been In progress than for = like
period preceding It: in fact, a person pass
ing through the coalhelds and mining towns
OF northeastern Pennsylvania would not
know that a great Industrial contest is In
progress. but for the presence of a perfect
army OF coal and iron police, who proudly
display their revolvers and rifles and 6aunt
their authority In an effort 10 overawe
peaceful strikers or provoke them TO acts
OF violence.
Done All They Could.