The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-05
RESUME Of THE
COAL SITUATION
The Various Steps and Nego-
tiations Carried on Up to
Midsummer.
LABOR TROUBLES AND
SHORTAGE OF MINERS
Opening of New Properties in
Hope to Meet Increased
Demands.

precarious a condition as ii was at the
close of winter. Little or no coal has
been stored; the facilities for storing
it have not been increased; the produc-
ton, in some instances, has been the
minimum; labor troubles have inter
fered with the supply; miners are
scarce, and three months will witness
Salt Lake confronted with the most
Eerious fuel famine in its history. And
through it all the predominant note
is the assurance Of an increase in the
price of coal. Like death and taxes
that advance in price must be not by
the people, and yet with the price soar
ing skyward the market will be de
pleted,
y resume Of the various steps which
have been taken and the negotiations
carried on by the coal operators and
the railroads since the opening Of spring
will be interesting at this time. First
came the intimation from the opera
tors that coal was to be increased 25
cents per ton, the increase ostensibly
to go to the teamste.. This was IN the
spring when the roads We're muddy and
heavy and hauling was difficult; but
the advanced price still remains wheth-
er the teamster is getting it or not.
money for the long haul to the north
and east benches and the southeastern
part of the city no one Will DENY;
but this blanket raise in price was
made TO meet this condition.
Storage Rate Announced.
Following this came a circular from
the freight department of the Oregon
Short Line urging the dealers and the
consumers to store coal during the
summer months. The railroad officials
were insistent IN this matter. claiming
that there would be an abundance of
cars for transportation and that storing
would help the coal situation mate
rally. a few weeks later, about the
end of May, the Short Line supple
mented this circular with an official
announcement that during June, July |
and August rebate of 25 cents per
ton on the freight rate would be al
lowed on all coal in storage on August
81, the settlement to be made on that |
Date.
Then came the labor troubles at the
mines a. Rock Springs, For three
weeks the miners were locked out, no
coal was produced; the stores the rail
roads had on hand were drawn upon
until they were exhausted and for a |
time the suspension of freight trains |
was threatened. Three weeks ago the |
miners returned to work at a 10 per
cent advance in wages. This was |
granted by the operators, but it was
not a final settlement of the difficulty, |
this will be determined at a conference |
TO be held between the men and the
operators in the course of the next few
days.
But the lockout had serious effect
upon the local coal situation. Besides |
depicting the railroad companies stores
it prevented the shipping Of coal to Salt |
LAX MI fc for nf
consumers, and for time the daily sup
ply was only sufficient TO meet the de.
nand- The result was that the storing |
Of coal was hindered and the railroads
are now, they assert. some $4,000 or
$4,000 tons behind with their reserve |
supply, which will have to be made up.
Coal Increased in Price.
The next move was the announce
ment OF the increase in the price of
coal by the Keanmerer company OF Wy
oming, followed by the Western Fuel |
company, The increase was so cents,
making coal Sc per ton. The Utah
Fuel company, the Central Coal and
Coke company, the Citizens company
md the others have not yet met the
raise, but they will, it is only a ques
ion of time,
During all this time the mines of the
Utah Fuel company in Carbon county
nave been in full operation, that is,
20 far as the force of men will per
nit. The Denver & Rio Grande rail
'oad has made no announcement Of a
storage rate Oh coal, nor is it believed
hat 1t intends 10,
Probable Increased Output.
The purchase Of the Grass Creek
mines near Coalville by Eastern cap
talists, announced on Tuesday morn
ng, may assist partially in a solution
IF the coal problem, Doubtless the bulk
If the workings are in a dilapidated
condition, but if they can be rehauled
ind the mines made producers to their
fullest capacity by fall, the product
will help conditions North of Kim
nerer, up in the Fonteville district. |
oy The Union Pacific company. An
,ther property is being opened by the |
Utah Fuel company at Carbon county,
which it is expected will produce 1000 |
Vt 1900 tons per day.
All these increased facilities will as.
Iist the situation, but the scarcity Of |
abor has to be reckoned with. Again !
he vast increase of population in Utah, !
IDAHO and the Northwest, and the in
lustrial development means a largely |
increased demand for fuel the coming |
yinter. The serious problem is, will
he increased production meet the in
reased demandq 1t is not believed
hat IT will The coal operators should
Zee to it that every man whom they
an possibly secure should be put to |
work IN the mines, even though the |
wage scale has TO be increased to do it. |
This Is duty incumbent upon them.
he coal is at our door; it should be
Toduced. And In the meantime it be-
looves every dealet and consumer who
.as the facilities to store coal wherever
nd whenever they can get it and make
rovlsion against the winters shortage, !
Americans Bun Close.