The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-02
CAN'T AFFORD TO AGREE.
Coal Men Say the English Strike Wouidn't
Help Them with High Prices.

Notwithstanding the cabled reports
from England that the coal strike there
Will not end for some time. representa-
tives OF the bituminous operators who
have their headquarters in this CITY
expressed the firm belief yesterday that
the strike will end soon. As to the grant :
ing OF the wage and other demands of
the bituminous miners here. based on the
idea that the English strike would cause
the prices Of bituminous coal to soar.
they said that by making an agreement
binding themselves to pay the wages
demanded for year they would be
working the collieries at loss when the
English strike is over and prices drop
to the normal.
Henry s. Fleming. chairman of the
Bituminous Coal Trade Association, said
that most OF the large operators. believ-
ing in spite OF reports from the other side
that the English strike would not last
long. were absolutely against grantine
the wage demands
The strike in England must fall by its
own weight, he continued. IF il lasted
two months 1t would demoralize the com
merce OF Europe and bring about a con-
dition OF affairs that would be intoler-
able. Some measures will be taken by
the British Government to bring il to an
end. No doubt the demand for bitumin-
Gus coal here would Increase and prices
would jump. but for the last three wears
the operators have been just holdinp
their own. and they would have TO 90 out
OF business II they yielded to the wage
demands OF the miners. The short time
in which they would get high prices
would not compensate them for runnin o
the collieries AZ loss for the rest OF the
year when the English strike is over and
prices get down to the competitive basis
again.
He said that the operators " >,uld he
Wiling TO grant concessions and he has a
hope that the leaders Of the miners will be
reasonable.
Other operators who were seen said that
the likelihood of strike Of snthra cite
miners was greater than Of strike of bi-
luminous miners. though no one could alb
soluteiy predict what would take place
after April l until the conferences between
the bituminous miners and the operat ors
are concluded. There is little anthracite
on the market and the coal dealers are
hurryng up to fll their orders before
April l.
1t was said that great many factories
in case Of bituminous strike will shut
down at once on the plea that they can get
no coal. This will throw out of work
thousands OF people on whose contributions
the strikers would otherwise depend to
increase the strike fund.
d. u. OConnor. representative Of the
Empire Coal Mining Company. which is a
bituminous mining concern. says that the
small sizes OF anthracite are nearly out Of
the market They compete with bitumi-
nous coal for use in steam plants.
These small sizes are a by-product,-
he explained yesterday, "and to-day the
market for bituminous coal has stifened.
II is mistake TO suppose that no btu
minous coal is used in New York. The
city ordinance against smoke does not
prohibit the use Of any kind of coal in
particular. 1t provides only against smoke.
Some buildings. the Federal Building, for
instance, which has smoke consuming
plant, have always used soft coal in run
ming elevators. There are many places in
New York where soft coal is la use when
IL Is carefully stocked"