New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
COAL OPERATORS READY.
Will Resume Work at Once-SUr-
prise to Dealers.

The fidings that the anthracite mine workers
are to go back 20 work under the conditions Of
the Anthracite Strike Commissions award was
expected by the anthracite operators yesterday
but not apparently by the coal dealers. Vice
President John B. Kerr. OF the New York, On
tario & Western Company one Of the anthracite
operators committee Of seven, said that no time
would be wasted in getting work under way.
7 have received no official announcement that
there viii be a conference between the operators
and miners committees of seven in this city on
Monday" he said, ''but I am given to under
stand that it Will take place. All the men who
went out under the suspension order Of their
leaders VIII be reinstated. 1 believe, and no
hitch of any kind is anticipated"
He said in reply to question to what will
become Of the strikebreakers. that there were
so few Of them that the question was not worth
= considering. The greater number Of them were
guards who were temporarily employed and the
men at the washeries were nearly all the old
employees Of the companies.
will the surplus Of anthracite held by the
companies lead TO less work for the miners?' he
was asked
1T will reduce the quantity Of coal to be mined
10 the extent ofathe surplus that is still left he
replied 1T must be borne in mind. however.
that even under normal conditions there is La
bic TO he a surplus if there is a mild winter
Regarding the summer reduction in prices, Mr.
Kerr was inclined to be more non-committa1
When asked about it, he said that he had not
talked with the other operators about it and
could not speak definitely the subject.
We have been put to great expense in guard
Ing and looking after the condition of the col
lieries.' he said, and will incur a great deal
more in getting them in shape TO begin work
again"
Mr.. Kerr thought that if as he believes,
everything is settled by Tuesday. the mining can
begin regularly at the end Of this week
The coal dealers Of this city will meet to-
morrow afternoon at No 639 Sixth avenue to
consider the question of coal prices 1t is the
belief that the retail price Of domestic anthra-
cite, for which there is little demand at pres
ent, VIII go down this week
One Of the best known members Of the Coal
Dealers Association. who was seen yesterday.
said he thought domestic anthracite would go
down from 81 a ton to Sc or Sc 25 a ton this
Week II the summer reduction were put in
Lofce py the operators il would mean still lower
The consumers who laid in their winter SUD-
Ply OF coal thinking there would be a long
II, sliiAe, ne said, could have had cheaper coal
- Waluhg Latterly anthracite has been
ooughc at a premium by dealers who believed
mere would be an official strike order this
"On the other hand" he said I'VE have had =
month OF idleness at the mines This would
mean 100000 tons not mined As ia the re-
- serve held by the companies, some Of the largest
nave released very little while others bova boe,,
york Susquehanna & Western, Erie & Pennsvl-
wanna Coal companies have been releasing their
surplus regularly, and can have very little left
Inc Reading, Lehigh and Wilkes Barre New,
York. Ontario & Western and Delaware Lack
awanna & Western have released very little b,1+
suppose they will let II go now