The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-04-15


les of New England clamor, IS high
grade stun and Will continse TO-
come in as cuim. although in realty
III is the best grade of Canadian
coal.
From England as Ballast.
Mr.. Elkins also pointed out that
If the duty on coal is removed
through reciprocal arrangement.
large quantities OF 1t would come
from England as ballast, especially.
at times when water rates wereiiow.
He produced figures to show that
during the eight months Of the recent
coal famine. due to the strike and
shutting down the mines. In which
period coal by special act was admir-
ted free, there was imported 81
100000 tons from England. Then.
too, he said. that II Nova Scotia
could send 100000 tons of culm in
to New England ports at a Is cent
duty, with coal free. itwould send
in from Ave to ten times that amount
ana as the imports increased under
this discriminating practice. Ameri-
can workrnen would continue to II
thrown out of work or mines shut
down. If, he said, the high grade
coal imported as slack had bsen
compelled to pay 81 cents duty the
government would have received
$1.2oO.0oO in additional duty. and
to that extent the present law has
aided in this fraud on revenues.
There was no contention on the
part of Mr.. Elkins that the products
Of the West Virginia mines shoifld
be protected Mt the expense of other
sections OF the country. He said he
wanted to see the peaks in tariff leg.
islation CIT down and more equita-
ble adjustment agreed upon that
would deal justly with every section
OF the country and raise sufficient
revenue to maintain the govern
ment. lie declared II there was a
general reduction on all products
and not on few and those. few n
the expense of certain sections of
the country-h would be willing TO
see coal bear its share of the general
reduction.
( Close Door to Frauds.
Under such general and equita-
BILE reduction. coal, he said. might
be placed at 80 cents ton. AS to
slack. Mr.. Ell;ins expressed the "
lief that there should not he so wide
a difference between the rate it car
ricd and thai on coal itself. II he
rate on coal is reduced to 30 cents.
then slack, he continued, should he
fixed at 30 cents. This would close
the door 10 the frauds that are now
practiced. But these reductions. Mr..
Elkins said, the coal men would
agree to only inthe event
there is genuine and eqn-
table reduction all along the line OF
natural products.
Considerable of Mr. Elkins's az
gument was based nnon the cost OF
transportation as controlling factor
in the expense of getting coal 10 the
market. The value of the coal pro-
duced last year in this country he
placed al 419.O00.OOO tons, valued
at the mine at about $500, 900 900.
The average cost OF transportation
was $500 a ton. The coal. and lis
transportation, therefore. represent
ed an Investment of $1,000. 900. 900
annual. or this. West Virginia con-
tributed 100000 tons and paid for
transportation $4,000, 900. making
net profit of only is cents ton.
In the state there are $4,000 miners
on whose labor 100000 people de-
pend. The average through rate on
this coal is about SLIGO ton. Mfr.
EiKihs showed that the cost of coal.
all charges carefully considered. de-
livered In Boston, was from s3.3O 10
$3.50 a ton, while coal from Nova
Scotia was delivered there at from
$500 to $3.50 ton.
| He discussed the differences in
the labor cost and concluded with thu
prediction that If Canada could ex-
port to the United States / ,4sO,0O0
tons annually on duty of ca cents
ton, then. If the reciprocal ar
ransements were made the imports
from that country would son jump
to 100000 tons, while every ton
of Canadian coal imported meant
that much loss of labor to the Amer
lean miners, that many additional
men out of work, with a correspond
ing loss in other lines OF industry de-
pendent upon the product OF the coal
mines for their support.
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