The Topeka state journal., 1903-02-05
UNLI S3UU A TEAK
Nine Inspector CastlemAn Gives
Miners Earnings.
Says Those at Usage Get Above
Amount.
MEN ARE HARD TO GET.
Low Wages Cause a Shortage
of Miners.
Operator Johnson Complains
About the Railroads.
Shortage of Fuel Charged to
Situation In East.

Gust johnson, president of the West
ern Fuel company, the organization
which controls most of the Usage coal
which comes to Topeka, testified before
the coal famine investigation commit
tee today. This company handles
about half the output of the Usage
mines, according to Mr.. Johnson's tes-
timony-
It was brought out that the cost Of
production OF Usage coal has increased
from S1.70 a ton in 1898 to S2.27H In
1902 In 1901 the cost of production was
s216s4 a ton.
The average selling price was S2.593s.
Now the Western Fuel company is
charging S2.75 a ton This is an in
crease of Is cents over a year ago.
As to retail prices, Mr.. Johnson said
he knew nothing about them except in
Topeka. At first he said the increase
in the local price in Topeka was the
same as that at the mine, but after
wards he said the local price has been
advanced more. A year ago 1t was
1915 and $500 and now it is $3.50 and
$4.75.
MI. johnson blamed the railroads for
confiscating coal He said 1t was very
usual thing for the railroads to do, not
only this year, but previous years. The
Rock Island he said. took more coal
of his than other railroads. He
thought this was because the Rock Is
land had little coal of its own on It's
lines and is compelled to buy Conse-
quently it finds coal hard to get.
The output of the Western Fuel COM
pany has been keeping UP and in 1909
was 1920 tons. while it was 1852 tons
in 1901.
could have put UP coal in the summer.
The operators, he said. could not store
Usage coal. because it slacks and cannot
be handled without going to pieces This
he said, does not interfere with its burn
ing, but interferes with its shipment
Concerning his opinion as to the cause
of the coal famine Senator Noftzger
asked Mr.. Johnston;
You realize that there has been
shortage in the coal supply during the
last two or three months, do you2"
oh yes" replied the witness.
How do you explain this condition.
Heretofore about two-thirds OF all the
commercial coal consumed in Kansas
has been shipped in from Pennsylvania,
Colorado the Indian Territory and other
states The shortage in the east mas
cut off most of this outside supply and
there has been far greater demand for
Kansas coal"
why don't we get as much from the
Indian Territory as before2'
THE operators say there is none to be
had The shortage is so great that it is
drawing on the western supply
Does 1t affect Colorado coal2
Il don't know about that"
HAS there been an increased con-
sumption of coal2"
yes, the demand has increased more
than the production.
rs thehe any way for you to tell how
much the consumption has increased? 2,
mo, the Usage mines furnish small
amount of the total consumption"
"Is there any other reason for the
shortage besides the shortage in the
east?"
mo. none that I know Of
'sWhy has not the production kept up
with the increased consumption
well in any industry it takes some
time for the production to follow an in
creased demand"
why can't you get out coal in the
summer and store 1t ?"
s.7The operators can't do it because it
slacks and then there is too much dust
about it. The consumer can put it In
his coal house and keep it, but the
mines can't do it."
why can the consumer and not the
1T can't be handled and shipped after
it lies for several months. 1t burns all
right, but if the operators store it and
then try to ship it, it falls to powder
1.-THE price of coal is good n0ws isn't
it?'
NO. we are making less money than
we did five years ago"
Senator Mcmillan tried to probe the
matter of a combine among operators.
DO you know of any association of
operators for the purpose of controlling
prices2' he asked.
mo, not to control prices"
Are you a member Of any associa-
ton of operators for any purpose2"
81 am not now. but I have been"
What was the object of that as
sociation p
Just for mutual benefit. There was
no particular understanding on prices"
Representative Stavely then asked
Mr.. johnson to give the items which
of coal Instead Mr.. Johnson gave the
following statement of the business of
the Western Fuel company for the past
five years:
1s9S-Production. 1000 tons. Cost.
$40 a ton on car, which includes all
but does not include losses on account
4 of bad credits. Average selling price
/ S1S4 a ton. Profit, IA cents ton
1899-Production 1899 tons Cost.
/ $1.94. Average selling price. S2.12. Net
profit, IL cents a ton.
Production. 14.485 tons. Cost
S2.091z. Average selling price, S221%
! Profit, liz cents a ton.
1901-Production, 1862 tons. Cost.
/ S216A. Acreage selling price, S2255<-
Profit, 9lz cents a. ton
1902-Production 1920 tons Cost.
s2.27l a ton Average selling price.
$2.399s Profit, 1915 cents a ton
These figures, while of interest, did
/ not answer Mr. Stavelys question as
to what items go into the cost of pro-
/ ducti0n, and the question was renewed.
/ It brought out the following figures
/ Mining, s1.50 a ton; pushing. 12 cents;
royalty. 10 cents; other employees. de-
ficiency work, and miscellaneous ex-
/ penses. So cents a ton
y r C,aStIenan. secretary of the