The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-11-21

that the stock on hand necessary to
supply the New York trade, should the
miners suddenly suspend operations
for two days, would not last q hours.
according to the Wilkesbarre CORES
pendent of the New York Herald. The
situation Is unprecedented and its
seriousness is felt only by those who
are identified with the coal trade, all
of whom realize that crisis will be
precipitated by a sudden cold wave,
which may be expected at any time.
While the big operators charge that
they have not raised and have not
contemplated raising the price of coal
to consumers in New York, the indie
pendent operators who have done so
say that further increase due to heavy
demands for coal and the inability of
the operators to supply the market,
render additional increases of price
inevitable. The independents, chief
among whom is John c. Haddock, as
sert that the big operators, and not
themselves, are responsible for the
alarming situation in which the con-
sumers of anthracite coal now find
themselves in all parts of the Atlantic
seaboard
The three principal causes advanced
by all the operators for the unusual
shortage of the coal supply are the
loss of production occasioned by the
sporadic strikes in many of the col
lieries, the lack of labor in the mines
and the extreme scarcity of cars,
which now are being used by the rail
road companies for the transportation
of farm products throughout the mid
die west. These factors, coupled with
the fact that the reserve supply on
hand at the time of the suspension of
work in the coal fields in April last
was exhausted before work was re-
sumed, on July /, have contributed,
they say to the creation of situa-
ton which now, they admit, is as
alarming as it is unprecedented in the
history of coal mining in this state
Since the agreement with the mine
workers was signed by the coal opera
tors on May -, it is generally admit
ted, the production of coal has been
10 per cent. below normal. 1t is sad
that this was largely due to the fall-
IRE of hundreds of miners to return
from their homes abroad, whittier they
had gone pending a settlement on the
wage dispute, and to the numerous
holiday observances and petty strikes
of the miners occurring in the summer
and fall.
At the time of the suspension OF
work In the mines in April only six
weeks supply of coal was held in re
serve. and it is said that before June
l. when the miners returned to their
work. not ton OF coal was available
for any purpose whatsoever. OWING
TO neutrality-suspicious. of the terms oil
the wage agreement on the part oil the
operators and miners considerable
time was lost. so that the production
foil far below the normal figures OF
each month 1t is estimated that IN
stead of 100000 tons, which are
normally mined each month, the
monthly production did not exceed A.
600 600 tons in the last six months
During this period the various
unions have been PROSECUTING actively
so that the organization Is strohee:
than it ever has been in this section
The refusal of a small minority OF
miners IN ioin the strikes resulted
That these disturbances among the
union men and frequent strikes re-
shifted That these disturbances were
important factors in lessening the
production to figures far below nor
NAL is admitted by all conyersant with
the situation
A few days ago approximately Z'ooo
miners employed in the South Wilkes
barre Colliery. owned by the Lemgh
and Wilkesbarre Company, went OIL
strike because four non-union miners
refused to wear the union button. A
similar strike took place in MaXWeIi
No 20. belonging to the same company.
The first named colliery was idle Tor
a week. while the second was shut
down for three days. The loss IN pro
duction because of these strikes was
% 900 tons of coal.
The Cancellation Board was summon
ed hastily and the grievances OF the
men we're Investigated. Even the re-
representatives. of the miners on the
BOARD refused 10 countenance the
strikes. and the miners were directed
IN return to their work Immediately.
This they reluctantly consented to do
last Saturday. but not before they were
warned that appeal would be taken TO
the executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America and their leaders
removed for violation of the terms oil
the agreement entered into by the Of
icers of the national body.
Petty strikes were started IN the
GUNNER and fall in various collieries
Of the Lehigh Valley Temple Iron
coal Pennsylvania. Delaware and