The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-13
J. ". MCQUEEN GIVES EXHAUSTIVE
 TESTIMONY FOR THE OPERATORS
(continued from Sixth Pase.)


 consumption was 5000 tons greater than the rate of production for February. have not seen it. I said that some fur naces might have to go out of blast If the rate of consumption and the price Of iron fell. In 1893 furnaces all over the district went cut of blast Some of the furnaces did not own their own coal and coke properties; the Pennsylvania fur naces were blown out. Some of them at that period on account of the condition of the iron market.
 We have not sold any pig iron In New York or Philadelphia since last October. The foreign iron has shut us out Not 10 per cent of the pig iron made in this dis trict Is used or consumed in this district. I think importations or pig from Germany and England will be stopped. They shipped 100000 tons in last six months, but I think s12 iron will stop it. The bulk of our iron is shipped north of the Ohio river.
 I was told today that our No. ? foundry iron was selling in Pittsburg for ST. Our No. 2 and Bessemer sell for practically the same price
 The actual cost of producing Bessemer iron Is $15-S16 ton.
 I don't think we control 80 per cent of the market Tor coal.
 In Walker county coal is in many mines thicker than here. In the mines that I know of in Walker county they are not paying a fiat price of 55 cents for the last twelve months. l don't know anything about the Galloway contracts. You and Mir. Fairley say he is paying 55 cents and have no doubt 1t is so.
 Redirect by MT. Cabaniss As to short age of cars, 1t was mostly on line of the Southern railway. The difference to the miner between the price of iron at S7.50 under old grading and S750 under the present proposed base at 37Ha cents would be SIPS in favor of the miner.
 The Alabama pig iron production was about 100000 tons last year out of a total of 20.000,O00 tons. All surplus made by the Sloss-Sheffield company has gone to betterments. Under the new proposed grading No. 1 foundry would be about S9.00.
 Proposition Fairer.
 The proposition now is fairer than that which existed in 1898. Now the proposed contract Is based on all grades and all are used in making the base of s7.50 so all grades must go so low that some grades nust reach s6 or less to bring the aver age down to the minimum.
 MT. Mcqueen makes this explanatory statement: The 12 per cent profit was based on the gross sales. I am referring to the commissary Tn estimating the capital employed I have simply stated that the goods inventoried in the stores would run from s16OOo0 to s175.o00. Other items would run 1t to s225.O0O. Many thrifty miners who buy up checks get many things for less than cost.
 He Finishes.
 MT Mcqueen leaves the stand. his ex- animation being finished.
 MT Percy produces table showing MT. Adam Pow's monthly earnings, etc.. and hands it to MT. Pow to study. MT. Pow will be recalled later.
 William Herbert, the next witness pro- duced by the operators says he is the superintendent of the coal mines of the Bessemer Land and Improvement com pany. located in Bibb county, and the Thompson seam the same seam as the Aldrich and other mines We operate in the Blocton district. We pay miners on the Thompson seam the same wages as are paid at Pratt mines on the sliding scale We pay on four feet seam 55 cents When it goes below four feet we pay 571k cents. The seam runs from three and one-half to seven feet, aver ages five feet three inches. Pratt seam runs from thirty-four to sixty inches We pay 55 cents if coal runs up to seven feet. but wage scale does not increase until we get down to four feet, then we pay 57Ik cents but on the Pratt seam the pay l dots not increase until 1t gets down tc | thirty-eight inches. Our mines are as safe and the coal is mined as easily as al Pratt. At Pratt the coal is under cut