The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-10
| COAL PRICES UP.
Kansas Fuel Situation in an
Unsettled Condition.
Operators Awaiting Outcome OF
Conference With Miners.
DEMAND HIGHER WAGE
Union Asks Advance OF 15 Cents
Per Ton.
Employers Would Make General
Reduction of 10 Cents.
DEMAND HIGHER WAGE

There will be no advancement in the
prices of coal over last year the dea-
| lers say and that the indications appear
to point towards a reduction. This re-
lates more especially to the Kansas soft
Goals and is followed by another state
ment that the price may advance dur
ing next Is days.
The scale of prices the dealers say
will depend largely upon the conference
between the coal operators of Kansas,
Missouri. Arkansas and the Indian Ter
ritory who meet. the representatives of
the miners union at Pittsburg, Kan.
The agreement under which the union
is now working expires September l,
and the members of the union are ask
ing an advance over last years price of
$1.65 per ton, of from ten to fifteen
cents per ton while the operators in
turn are making a proposition of about
from FIVE to ten cents lower than the
prevailing prices of last year. Those
who claim to know say an agreement
will be reached. both parties making
concessions. From what can be learned
at the present the coal miners who are
favorable to a peaceabIe settlement are
those belonging to the union in Arkan-
sas, Missouri and the Indian Territory,
the Kansas miners appearing more dis
posed to resort to strike tactics. 1t is
thought and expected that the majority
opinion will be that for peace.
Soft Goals from the Kansas fields
have increased in price 40 cents per ton
within the past ten days while a fur
ther advance, due to the unsettled con
dition prior to the settlement of the
scale for next year, of % cts Will like
ly take place within the next 10 days.
The present prices for Usage City !
shaft coal is $500; Burlingame, 1919;
Southern Kansas nut, $3.50; Southern !
Kansas lump. s4.75. The prices for the
Usage City last winter We're $3.50 and |
SAFE Burlingame, S4.25 and $3.50;
Southern Kansas. $4.75 and $500, while |
Frontenac brought $500
Kansas coal cannot Withstand the |
weather while stored and this fact acts |
against an otherwise extensive mining |
in the summer and a consequent reduc-
ton in price for the earlier winter /
months.
The Arkansas coal, semi-anthra-
cite and anthracite, will stand at about
the same figure as last year ana II Is
probable that Ouita can be bought this |
winter at a cheaper figure. The min
ers have been working steady at the
mines producing the Ouita and the Ell
fects of the strike which was on in
thai district for a period of last year
Ouita producers were running short OF
the demand last January but enough
is being stored up right at present 1T
the mines to take away any tightness
i'm the market this winter. Pennsyl-
vania coal will run about the same.
The general belief is that the price
paid the miners has little to do with
the retail price of coal as it now
stands or the prices asked last winter.
Since the Pennsylvania coal strike of
1902. when the western miners took
advantage of the situation to increase {
the price for soft coal, the prices for
Kansas coal has been uniformly higher
than ever before.
The wide margin between the cost
Of mining the coal. the cost of hand ;
ing and the transportation charges and
the prices asked from the small con-
sumers gives every indication of the
much talked of combine. Whether the
operators paid the miners a little more
)r a little less per ton will not make
he difference and is a poor excuse for
keeping up the exorbitant prices
1t was hoped that the action in the
district court. brought against the
Usage county mine operations by
County Attorney Hungate, charging
hem under the antitrust law with '
a trust or combine, would (
bring down the price of coal in To-
Deka but the case against the oper-
ltorS went to the Kansas supreme /
court. which meant a delay in the ulti- f
nate decision, and from there went /
o the United States supreme court at S
on a constitutional queS- t
ion, and means still greater delay. i
Since the case was appealed to the L. i
) supreme court nothing has been /
heard of it and no relief from that &
ource may be expected in Topeka this t
winter. [