The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-04-02
THE COAL TRADE
IS DISORGAN|zED
SUSPENSION OF WORK DOES NOT
INCREASE DEMAND.
ADJUsrMENT IS Nor Easy.
Though States Are Given Right 70
Act individually, II is Evident
They VIII Not do Any
thing hastily.

Chicago, March 2S.-The Black Dla-
mond today says:
Goal market conditions are still
fraught with uncertainty. due to the
fact that future relations between
the miners and operators have not
been thoroughly outlined. A great
many coal consumers and jobbers
arrived hastily at the conclusion that
the action Of the Mine Workers of
America in deciding to deal with the
operators individually or by states
pressage an immediate return TO work
after the first of April. In reality it
meant nothing of the sort.
The Mine Workers had taken the
position that they should deal with
the operators as whole or not at all.
The operators refused to permit the
miners to dictate not only terms, but
the form OF negotiations, and SO the
Mine Workers were compelled to re-
cede from their decision. This recess
sion marks the only change in the sit
| uation really, because matters of pol
| icy as to whether the individual states
will resume operation Immediately
after the first of April are still open
for discussion and decision. Those
| who arrived hastily at the conclusion
as above mentioned based their opin-
ion upon the belief that one of the
! four states would yield to the persua-
sion of the mine workers and open
/ its mines, thus forcing all the others
| to do the same thing for selfprotec-
4 ton. The action of each individual
state however is likely to be govern
4 ed to some extent by what action the
other states are likely to take. as no
one wishes to plunge hastily into an
agreement without knowing for sure
that the other state is going 10 be
able to obtain permanent advantage
over it in the matter of wages and
conditions.
i quite regardless of what the labor
4 difficulties will be. mine prices have
eased off radically within the week.
showing two things. First. that the
consumers did not believe there Will
be protracted suspension OF mine
} activity. and SECOND, that they do MOI
belive that any Suspension Of mine
activity will shorten the supply OF
, coal so as to advanve prices, because
the surrounding states could very
easily shop additional coal to the mar
] ket and thus take care of any short
age which might arise from suspen-
cd nf mi c N m
! four states.
Il Goal production all over the coun-
/ try has been curtailed rather sharply
within the week. The railroads believ-
ing that suspension Of the mines is
! not likely, began Immediately to take
the minimum instead Of the maximum
Il contract requirements and of course
cut down the amount of coal coming
!, to them. Manufacturing concerns
stopped entirely taking any additional
J, coal, merely requiring such amounts
} as would supply their current de-
mands. The retailers have not been
! buying any coal in anticipation OF a
disposition to take coal has been i'm
huenced by the fact that circular
prices change on the first of April
and they do not care to have any more
coal on hand than is absolutely neces-
sary. All these things have made
for a decidedly dull and dropping
market and values in consequence
have been off in all territories"
! | ~-~-~--~--~----G y