The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-10

given TO from IS 900 10 5000 moro
miners and mine laborers lhan arc now
available. Since the middle Of the sum
mcr OF la02 there has been shortage
of cars on the Chesapeake and Ohio. the
Norfolk and Western. and tho Baltimore
and Ohio railroads. and MI John LainS.
chief Of the department OF mines OF
West Nirsiui9. reports that the mines
have been idle an average or from ono
10 two DAYS a week from this cause. I'm
the northern part OF West Virginia a
material increase in production WAS OBJ
taincd in 1909 over 1908, and this would
probably have been even greater NH-
ccpt for the general shortage Of labor.
one Of The largest mining companies IN
that section states that IL wss not run
ming within more than IS per cent Of its
capacity because of tho labor shortage.
This is attributed 10 tho exodus OF min
ers 10 Europe during the business de-
preston of 1905. and some time must
eIapse before the effect OF this exodus
Will bc overcome, The shortage oi cars
in this section WAS confined principally
10 cars needed for the transportation Of
coke. 1t being necessary 1T times 10 ship
as much AS so per cent OF the coke in
box cars. at considerable expense over
Conditions in Ohio.
The controlling influence in Ohio has
been tho competition OF West Virginia
Goals with the domestic product. In
hampcTcd by the restrictions that 1ncct
states i'm which the miners arc thor
ouShly organized, such as Ohio and also
because OF the more favorable natural
conditions for cheap mining. tho Goals
of West Virginia arc said 10 bc mined
Ut about onc-half the cost of producing
Ohio Goals, and the West Virginia pro-
duct has taken The Ohio markets Ia the
fun extent permitted by the difference
in transportation expenses. leaving Ia
Ohio Goals only such markets ~ may be
zion by which West Virginia Goals arc
Put farther into the Ohio markets are
constantly improving. the prospect ot the
industr; n.Ohio is not considered bright.
Fewer Strikes and Accidents.
Throughout the entire Appalachian
region there was little Interference with
ccal-mining operations in 1909 by labor
note that the mines were unusually free
from any very serious explosions OF other
accidents cntailing heavy loss Of lic.
Exceptions are 10 he noted In the cN-
Virginia. which occurred on January l.
and resulted in the deat- cf 60 men,
and another at Welirum. Pa. or June %.
by which II men were killed and ~
injured
{. l.. scroggs. secretary OF tho Illinois
Coal Operators association. states that
in the coal mines Of Illinois duving 1909
has hccn due to the fact thst thc' num-
bcr Of mines exceeds tho requirements
of th" trade. This means, of course. iha
supply tic market, and with each mine
trying Ia secure its quota of labor. more
labor Is employed i'm tho mines tnIu
should he necessary To produce tho quun-
tifv OF coal required by toe markets.
This. as stated by Mr.. ScroeSs. il re-
nectcd in the report of tho bureau of
labor statistics OF Illinois, which shows
that In rho wear ended June "a. I40S.
the shipping mines of the state operated
only an average OF lsl days, as compared
with 209 days the preceding year. I'm
71Sj1: in 1907 the number was Go.
There hes bccn some shorjay. of cars.
especially during the fall and winter
months, but this Was not shortage
which more than affected th" distriDu-
tiou of business. There has been no
suffering FOR coal because of any failure
on the part Of tho transportation CON-
panios. There were no general strikes
or suspensions during 1909. and such 10
cal difficulties occurred were not
sufficient ~ influence the total produc-