Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-11
RESTRICTION POLICY.


Coal and Coke Operator writing from
Charleston suggests several problems
connected with coal production in
West Virginia, This year has seen n
slowing down in the output hitherto
unknown, due in the main. the cor.
respondent says, to the stricter en-
forcement OF the state mining laws.
the great distance from consuming
centers, and the debilitated seaboard
markets this year. While the tonnage
records show that the westward and
southern movements are the hest in
history, the general tonnage has been
somewhat curtailed by minimized
Seaboard demand.
The fact that West Virginia is one
OF the great coal producing states OF
the country, it would seem, should in
time tend toward the establishment
OF greater local demand, and a bet.
ter local market. With wonderful
natural resources, the state should
become one of the most important
from manufacturing standpoint in
the Union. No better spot can he
found for enterprises of this nature
than our own Bluefeld We buy eyery.
thing we wear, everything that goes
TO furnish our homes and most OF
what we eat from the outside when
these things could be produced lust
as well within the borders OF the
state.
The Operator says:
Never before in the history OF coal
mining in West Virginia have produc.
ers felt 1t necessary to curtail pro.
duction until 1910. This year they
find that, because of the higher costs
incidental TO the stricter enforcement
of the mining laws by the State De.
partment of Mines they cannot sell
their coal at price that brings re-
turns on cost, so there has been q
stern restriction movement on mines
In New River and Pocahontas dis.
tricts, due to the weakness OF the sea.
BOARD markets, where prices obtain.
ed OF late have not been remuneratiye,
Nothing so well establishes the fact
that West Virginia is reaching that
stage OF development which has been
SO severely felt in the older coal.pro.
ducing States-overproduct ~capa.
city.
There is another reason, which Is
that, since the corporations have come
into being by merger OF individual
operations, there is a more accurate
accounting system, and this betrays
what the individual operators seldom
II ever considered-cost and price re-.
turn. II is realized that II a corpora.
ton is TO be successful IL must be able
10 pay dividends and show balance
sheet that will implsnt confidence in
the bosoms OF the shareholders as IN
the security OF their investment. This
has caused general firmjng IN of
prices, and a steady and firm adher.
ence TO them that has been unknown
IN FORMER years among the producers
OF this State. Prices at mines have
been maintained with moro staadi
ness and the producers feel that they
nave made the season prices az low
as the cost figures will permit tbom
70 DO, they have adopted the svstem
OF curtailing output to meet market
demands. This has somewhat mini.
mized tonnage. but this Is chiefly N
the seaboard markets. as railway ton.
mage records show that the wear so
far has been the best ever known es
peciaily westward and TO Cincinnati
ana the South. Prices are being held
hrmly on the S110 basis for mipe.
run and the usual dinereDtials and
so FAR the producers have stood ir
sold phalanx on the figures.
multiplication Of production goo,
on at opened mines with unabated On
ergy and new ventures are announc
cd almost every day. This forwar,
movement must make itself apparor
shortly. and the question is beginn,n,
10 be asked Where are we goin,
TO eli all the coal we can produce
The fact that West Virginia is so IA
ava from all the great consuming an,
distribution centers, and that she ba,
no large local market. is becoming 4;
serious problem to the far.sighted pro
ducers. While they all take pride ir