The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-04
Will Represent Mine Operators
at Hearing.
Sheriff Lucas Serves SubpOenas
on BarOnS.
FACTS AND FIGURES.
How the Prices Have Been Re-
peatedly Increased.
Miners Have Had Little Profit
from Raise.
FACTS AND FIGURES.

j. L. Prlngle, OF Usage city, has Deeu
engaged as one of the attorneys to look
after the interests of the mine operators
of Usage county in the hearing of testi-
mony Monday morning to discover, II
possible, the existence of the coal trust
contrary to law.
Mr.. Pringle came to Topeka this morn
ing and informed County Attorney Hun
gate that he would appear Monday
morning Mr. Pringle will have no
standing in court at the hearing as the
witnesses will be examined directly by
County Attorney Hungate and Attorney
General Coleman. There will be no
REORGANIZATION and no objections 10
testimony can be entered.
The operators were served with sub
poenas by Sheriff Lucas Thursday at
ternoon and there was at once lively
scramble to retain counsel. MI. Pringle
was visited by four operators last night.
The opera tors in Usage county have
laid the cause of tina increase in the
price of coal heretofore to the fact, which
they claim, that the production is grow
ing less and that the wages of the
miners have been increased.
The agreement between the operators
and the miners on the price to be paid
per ton for mining the Usage coal field
adopted to take effect September l, 1902.
is as follows:
Usage City, per ton. for entire year, SLIGO
Bun lingame, per ton. entire year. 50
Scranton, per ton, entire year,. Loo
The wage scale which went into effect
September l. 1902. for the Usage field
was as follows:
Summer prices, March to August 81,
1902
Usage City field, per ton. 81 S5
Burlingame, per On.............-.. 1.3O
Scranton, per ton................... l.2O
Winter prices September 1. 1902, to
April 30, 1903
Usage City field, per ton...........$1 .50
R1IrIinUamR ton 40
Scranton, per ton. l39
Very little coal is mined during the
summer months in Usage county. The
increase in wages is practically win
ter increase and amounts to 10 cents
a ton over the wages paid the previous
winter. The increase of 10 cents a ton
in wages to the miners can not be held
responsible for the increase of the price
of coal at the mines.
The prices quoted to dealers in To-
Deka for Usage county coal have gone
up steadily since August l.
The card prices the first week in Au-
gust were 1925 a ton for Burlingame
and $3.50 a ton for Usage City shaft at
the mines.
The price set August 10 was s2.45 for
Burlingame and $40 for Usage City.
August 20 the price for BurIingame
went to 1910 and for Usage City to
S2.95.
September 1 the price of BurIingsme
coal at the shaft was put up to $2.95
and the Usage City price at $40
Burlingame coal now retails in To-
peka for $3.50 and the Usage City shaft
coal for $4.75, the highest prices ever
charged for that coal.
The highest card prices charged in
Usage county during the winter of 1902
3, during the coal famine, was $3.50 for
Burlingame and $2.S5 for Usage City.
The price in September. 1903, is So cents
a ton higher for Burlingame coal at
40 mi ra- Ok q fOY1 6ir~Npr
for Usage City shaft coal than in the
coolest months of last winter when
there was an unlimited demand for the
coal.
The following shows the great diff
ference in prices for coal at the mines
in 1902 and 1903: