The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-02-22
Statement Going into Preva-
lent Conditions Issued by
the Operators.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE an
thracite coal operators committee
has issued the following statement.
cat each recurring expiration Of
1.-The three-year agreement between
the anthracite mine workers and the
operators, rumors are circulated to
the effect that the operators are
looking forward to strike as an
excuse for a general advance in the
price of hard coal. Since 1t ap-
pears that rumors of this nature
have again been set aaoat, state.
ment of the facts is due to the pub
lie.
Ear from viewing the possibll.
ity OF strike complacently, for
the reason suggested or for any
other reason, the operators are very
DESTROYS that nothing shall occur
to interrupt the operation of the
mines, and there is no thought of a
general advance in price In the
| present condition of business any
event that should force such an ad-
vance would be unfortunate
For the last nine years the
award Of the committee appointed by
the president Of the United States
has governed the relations of the
anthracite mine workers and opera
tors, and it is agreed by all that
4 there has never been period in
which conditions have been so pros
porous, both for the workers and
the anthracite communities as a
whole.
Besides awarding a ten per cent
increase in minimum wages, the
commission established slidins
scale under which the mine workers
pay is automatically increased one
| per cent for every advance of five
cents above $3.50 in the tide water
price OF coal. In addition to this
largely on account of the work done
by the board of Cancellation created
by the commission, the operation O.
the mines has been free from inter
ruptions, and the greater number o.
working days in year has material
ly increased the earnings of Tho
workers.
"In report on anthracite Goa
production recently issued by thu
United States government, Edward
w Parkers, who was one OF the
strike commissioners appointed b.
President Roosevelt, called atten
ton to this condition, as follows:
From 1897 to 1901, inclusive
the average number of days WORKED
in the anthracite mines ranged from
$50 to 1856, with a mean average o.
lG5 days. From 1906 to 1910 the
!, average number of working day:
ranged from 1875 to 229, with I
tInean average of 21O. This means
IN addition to the increase in wages
following the strike OF 1902, anC
the further benefits secured the
, miners through the sliding scale
created at the same time, that the
miners, by reason of an increase oil
twenty-seven per cent in their work.
) ing time, are able furtehr to sup,
plement their earnings by that per,
centnge. With these facts in mind
one may easily believe the state
ments frequently made that at NJ
time in the history of the anthracite
trade have their existed the pros.
perity and contentment that have
had place in the region during the
last eight years.
While the prices of all other
commodities have been steadily ad.
yancing, to the extent that the high
cost of living has become subject
for investigation by the government
the price of anthracite coal sold by
| the large companies has not changed
fer nine years. When a temporary
scarcity, or fear of scarcity, has
given the opportunity for producers
to advance prices, it has been ir
eyer case the small operator, the
so-called independent, who has
taken advantage of it The large
companies have maintained theil
quotations at the normal level, and
whenever any of their output has
been sold to the consumer at an alb.
normal price the difference has sim,
Iply gone into the pocket of the re.
tail dealer
The report of the United States
commissioner of labor shows that
the average price of the domestic
sizes for the month ow June, for ex-
ample, in the last eight years has
been as follows: