New-York tribune., 1904-10-27
CALLS PROFIT SSO,OOO,OOO.
Coal Producers Got That in -Four
Years. Lascyer Estimates.

~, ,.,,,,,- ~, the complaint OF William RAN
6oiph Hearst against the anthracite coai Sa' s
roads alleging coiiusion in charging excessive anu
extortionate prices. was resumed before the inter-
sfste Commerce. Commission yesterday. Clarence
J. shearn counsel for the plaintiH. rested his case
u had been hoped 10 end the testimony yesterday
but the case VIII so on to-day
M Shea-n read a statement OF the LackaTanna
Railroad TO indicate that the cost OF producing
coal had Increased q cents ton from 1850 TO 1894
Agr hesrn declared that the Increased cost 10 the
consumer was 81 in that same period Ihe prohts'
he said. IN The total output. figured from these
statements. would be SSo.ooa0oo in four years
George r Brownell counsel for the Erie road.
objected srenuously 10 the statement Of Mr. SheaFn
or the ground that 81 was misleading ana untrue
He declared thar the figures quoted showed only
the items OF increase for labor in mining and PRO
ducing coal. ard that numerous other items OF eA-
pense in coal production were not considered.
A. s. Baker auditor OF the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad coal department. was
called as . witness. He identified a statement
which had been submitted by the Lackawanna
showing the cost OF producing coal. The state
ment showed among other things that the in
crease in the cost OF producing coal averaged
81 81 for the six months ending April. 1890. and
s. B. for the six months ending April 1904 This was
an Increase Of 50 cents. but Mr.. Baker FASTENED
explain thai 1t applied only TO the cost OF
labor.
Does the cost OF labor increase regularly from
year 10 year," he was asked.
Yes the labor cost is increasing every year and
q days work does not produce as much coal as il
oie before"
N. p. Johns general superintendent OF the New
York Susquehanna and Western Railroad, VINO IN
slyenty-eight wears had advanced from brakeman
10 his presert office. described the methods OF
handling coal IN the Wilkesbarre region re SPOKE
OF the many difficulties with the miners on account
of thc number of holidays Which they lIslste1 OF
coiebrsrinR the Hungarisns having more than nitN
The purpor Of his testimony Was 70 snow, VIII
particuarity the many expenditures that coal pro
auction is attended with what would appear III
p general report OF railroad
WHAT is the OF gathering coal from lhe
mines to the points of distribution, 10 the point
v here IL e. loaded the cars?' Nj. She3In asked
she witness
.sAEhat Dercentage OF the total cost OF It's trans
portation to udewater is THAT
''I don't know -. -
Have YOU heard Il stated here that the cost OF
gathering coal from the mines 10 points or as
frbutlon was 80 per cent OF the total cost OF trans
porting Il TO tidewster?' -,
''So such statement was ever mace Eere. sa4u
counsel for the Erie. jumping TO his feet:
II sey II was responded Mr.. Saearn. hotly-
Il say Il was uot!' shouted the other
such 3 statement was made by Nj Ffenqerson.
cf the Reading Railroad, and can prove IL 10 you
lv fhe records" said Mr. Shearn.
There WAS = long argument by the railroad Jaw
ers in REGARD statistics Of other railroads tan
Was finally moved strike from the records
tzyar.ty-tRyO exhibits that had been submitted ny
Nr Shearn The commission denied this request
Counsel for the Pennsylvania gave notice then thtt
he reserved the right 70 call The Officers ot the
roads upon which statistics ha6 been admitted.