The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-01-22
CAUSE OF SHORTAGE.
Iowa Coal Operators Explain Con-
dition in This State.

OttumWa, Jan. L. Inc reason why
there is a shortage of coal in Iowa
this year is that there is a shortage of
anthracite coal and the coal from
Hooking Valley, Ohio. Hence Iowa
coal is in demand. This is not the
only reason, however, for another n
and a very big one is that many Of
the. miners, disregarding their agree
ment made with the operators last
year, do not work eight hours a day
but work on an average of six hours.
They have, however, improved in this
during the past two weeks" Thus l..
L. Lodwick, of Ottumwa, secretary OF
the Iowa Coal Operators association,
summed up the situation with regard
to the coal supply in Iowa.
Not Getting Rich.
"The public is making a great mis-
take" said Mr., Lodwick today to a
representative of the Courier, "in
thinking that the operators of the state
of Iowa are getting rich fast on &C
count of the shortage of coal which
exists now in other states. l can say
without the least fear of contradiction
that this is not the case and that the
shortage affects Iowa very little, one
way or the other. In support of this
statement 1 will say that nearly 80
per cent of the mines in this state are
selling their coal on contracts made
last year before the shortage which
is at present causing want and destitu-
ton in some places was thought OF as
a possibility.
mo mine with 100 tons or more OF
an output each day can be run on a
profit in ordinary times unless the op-
orators have a contract for at least
the greater part of the product. The
risk is too great. Consequently these
contracts, which are made by the year
are eagerly sought by the owners OF
mines. The contracts under which
the Iowa mires are now working are
nearly a year old, and when they were
made everything was serene on the
coal proposition. Now, however, there
is a shortage, but the Iowa operators,
unless they may sell an odd car or so,
are reaping no benert. They have
contracted to deliver so much coal
during the year at prices ranging from
S1.45 to $1.55 per ton, and must live
up to their contract.
Smaller Mines.
"This is true, l say, of 80 per cent
of the mines in Iowa. Five OF the
other ten per cent are smaller mines
whose owners have contracted with
local wholesalers, mills, factories, etc.
and they are selling at 8 and 8 cents
per bushel. The local mines are sell
ing their outputs near where the Goa
is mined, and the consequence is thai
there is little or no benefit for the op'
orators of Iowa to be derived from the
coal shortage"
According to Mr.. Lodwick's state
ments the opinion which has been
formed by many Iowa people in this
state, to the effect that the owners o.
coal mines in Iowa are just now more
fortunate than the owners of gold
mines in Colorado, is all wrong. OF
tumwa has no shortage in her Goa
supply, for the wants of the citizens
so far as bituminous coal is concern
ed, are supplied from the local mines
near the city. These mines do not
connect with railroads and the small
output would not justify their owners
shipping their coal out of the city tt
places where there really is want, fol
the expense Of transportation would
hardly be made up by the difference II
the price. Figuring thus, then, there
seems to be no special danger thai
the coal operators of Iowa will become
in a short time the monarchs of al
they survey.
Iowa Coal Marketable.
One advantage which is gained by
the Iowa coal operators is that now
during the time of the shortage of an
thracite and Hooking valley coal
there is plenty of demand for the Goa.
which is produced in Iowa, but which
when the eastern coal was produced
had to take a back seat in some of the
western markets. This makes the
minds of the Iowa operators rest more
easily, but does not necessarily in
crease the price he is getting for his
coal. However, looking upon its
bright side, the situation apparently
promises that in the future, the east
ern coal may possibly be crowded out
of Iowa by the Iowa coal in some Of
the markets in this part of the coun
try. There can be no doubt that the
shortage which is at present apparent
is going to have its effect upon the
eastern coal. In Ottumwa alone, much
of these two grades of coal was used
and the amount was greater in other
parts of the state where coal mines
are more distant than here. When
the change was made to soft coal there
was necessarily a change In stoves
and boilers, and the chances are even
when the supply of eastern coal in.
~creases, the soft coal will still be used
rather than make the change again.
Prices to Miners.
There is a report current In Ottum-
wa just now that the miners when
they meet in Des MONIES, In March to