Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-22
PRICE GOES DOWN
MINERS VOTE AGAINST STRIKE
CAUSES DOWNWARD TEN
DENcY IN COAL.
Market Is Shy on Orders for the Pres.
ent-LittIe Likelihood of Further
Reduction-April Coal Business Ex-
pected to BE Dull.

Chicago, ILL.,, March 19-The Black
Diamond, official organ of the coal in
dustry, reviewing the western coal
trade says today:
With the assurances this week that
strike is no longer probable in the
great central bituminous coal-produc-
ing states, western markets have
shown great tendency downward,
the most pronounced since the first of
the year. Demand for all descriptions
OF coal is very light, but on such as
show an oyersupply the lack Of de-
mand has been accompanied by de-
clining prices. Ir some few instances
where coal is nearly up to demurrage
there has been a reduction in the sell
ing figures of from twenty-five to fifty
cents a ton within the past two weeks
and at least half of this slump has oc-
Cured within the past week. On the
part Of steam buyers and retail deal
ers there seems to be no buying power
in the present condition of the market
and low prices are to be expected till
the advent of the new mining year
next month.
At this writing the returns under
the referendum vote of the miners in
Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, In
diana, Iliionis and Iowa have not been
completed, but the national officers of
the United Mine Workers are of the
opinion that the proposed agreement
has been accepted by substantial ma
jority. 1t is said that it will become
effective in all the states after April
l, probably as soon as local agree
ments have been signed.
Miners in Some States Did Not Accept
Agreement.
In all the states the miners did not
readily accept the agreement. In H.
linois, for instance, OF the total vote
about seventy-five per cent. favored a
strike and only twenty-five per cent
favored the agreement 1t is probable
that there will be more or less friction
during the next thirty or sixty days
in bringing the Illinois miners into
line. They will, in some instances, in
all likelihood INACCURATE local strikes
which will be a source of annoyance
and worry to the officials of their or
ganization until finally disposed of. In
Iowa and Michigan. it is understood,
the majority of the vote was in favor
of a strike and more or less difficulty
will be experienced in keeping the
miners and mine workers at work
when the reduction first becomes eff
fective. In Indiana the vote is said to
be very near tie, but in Ohio, Penn
sylvania, West Virginia and Maryland
it is claimed, it was overwhelmingly in
favor of settlement. Wherever the
| vote was in favor of a settlement at
| the new mining rate the men are like
| ly to continue at work without serious
| interruption. In most cases the mine
workers in these localities have been
able 10 put in only part time during the
| past sixty to ninety days and they are
anxious to get to work as early as pos
sible and to keep steadily at it. Out
side of the few local troubles that will
occur in some of the far western fields,
it is believed that the labor situation
is disposed of for the next two years
and that it will be the source of no
serious trouble in the immediate flu
ture. OF coure, the state and district
conferences with the miners repre-
sentatives will intervene and require
some two or three weeks before they
are disposed of, but during April there
will be no necessity for large produc-
ton of coal, and anything that keeps
production within restricted limits will
be of more or less benefit to those who
are able to produce coal.
Effect of Wage Agreement on Prices.
The effect of the wage settlem ent on
prices is the next step in the develop.
ment of the new years business. Thre
is feeling in some quarters that the
large users of coal will endeavor not
only to get all the benefit resulting in
the lower mining price, which at the
most will not be over five to seven
and helf cents ton, but will endeav'
or to secure lower prices. In some OF
| the territory this will be possible, but
! in the western states operating inter
ests are not likely to make concessions
further than reduction of 5.5 pei
cent from the selling price established
a year ago. They occupy strong pc
sition and do not need to give away
all their profits as we'll as the conces
sions obtained from the miners in or
der to hold business. In eastern bust
ness prices can not go lower than they
| were III Jdlludly SNCl IllouSAA q SOhSS'
sion has been obtained in the mining
price. There is no likelihood of a fur
Their reduction in selling price, this
being as low as it possibly can, be and
return a profit to the producers of Goa
at this time.
Anthracite Market in West Flat.
In the western anthracite trade the
market is fiat on orders for immedi
ate requirements. Very little new bust
ness is being developed at this time
and shipping companies, in fact, DE-
not expect it. Throughout the remain
der of the month business will be very
dull, except for the orders coming IL
for April delivery, which are increasing
in volume and indicate large business
next month.
j One feature of the situation which
| is attracting attention pertains to thu
| likelihood of receipts at western points
meeting the April requirements OF thu
trade. 1t seems reasonably sure tina
Il the lake season will be unusually lat
! in opening and that very little hare
4 coal will reach Chicago, Milwaukee o
i the head of the lakes before May first
/ re ~. oooeDr NOT lot in, nnpnin