Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-23
JOHN IARKLE'S TESTIMONY
As to the Profits When Coal Is Selling a
SI.5I Per Ton.

As to the Profits When Coal Is Selling at
$I.51 Per Ton.
Further evidence of the ability of
the coal mine operators to pay in
creased wages is found by Mitchell in
the sworn testimony of John Markle,
mana ging partner of the G. Il. Mar
kle Coal company. an independent
firm. Markle swOre that under his
mana cement from 1890 to 1894, inclu-
.sive. the partnership made the large
profits of over $1,000.000. During the
five years referred to by Markle the
home value of coal produced by the
anthracite coal companies was 81 81
rer ton. IF the g. Il. Markle COM
pkny could make profit of over ST.
10000 i'll five Years at that price. does
it not seem reasonable to suppose that
the larger cOmpanieS-whoSe cost of
production is necessarily leSS-could
make sufficient profit when the home
value of their coal was 81 81 per ton,
TO enable them to pay the
anthracite mine workers the small pit
tance asked for by them:' Mitchell
asks. ~
Mitchell cites other reports to show
that the operators can pay more wages
without injuring their prospects for
profits. and then says: president Paer,
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
order to prove that wages could not
be increased. This proposition on the
surface appears reasonable. but when
diSSected and analyZed it is positively
absurd. EiGhty-tiVc or 30 per cent.
of all coal produced in the anthracite
regions is from mines owned and op-
Grated by the various coal carrying
railroads; the freight charges for haul
ing ton of anthracite coal one mile
are three times as great as those of
other roads for hauling Il ton of Ditum-
inOuS coal one mile.
'AS consequence the coal depart
mentS, while actually earning enor-
nous profits on Il legitimate business,
may and do appear to he losing money,
for the reason that the railway de-
partments absorb the profits of the
coal departments by charging the coal
departments eXOrbitant freight rates.
They thus rob Peter to pay Paul 1t
cannot he 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
rate
In reply to the statement that the
reason the miners are required to give
from 2.T40 to 3.190 pounds for ton
is TO provide for impurities in the coal
as dug by the miners. Mitchell asks
when, then. do the companies dock the
miners earnings from 10 TO 10 per
cent. for this very purpOSe-compen-
Sation to the companies for impuritieS2
Mitchell declares that the miners have
} been grossly maligned in being called
lawleSS class. etc. and appeals to the
police court records of the region to
prove his assertions.
The statement closes as follows:
I'VE repeat our proposition to arbi-
trate all questions in dispute: and if
our premises are wrong. if our posi-
| ton is untenable. if our demands cam
not be sustained by facts and figures.
we will again return TO the mines. take
| up our tools of industry, and await the
| day when we shall have more right
| eOuS cause to claim the approval of the
| American people"
Hazleton, Pa. June 23.-Two Della
ware, Schuylkill and Susquehanna
trains of anthracite coal left the
yards here today bound for North
| Amboy. y. J. This is the first con-
| signment of anthracite coal sent
from here to tide water since the
strike went into effect.