The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1913-02-05
British Coal Op-
orator Com
ing
D. A. Thomas, of Wales, Ar
riveS in Washington and
Sees President Taft
and Congress
man Slemp.

and Congress
man Slemp.
Washington, Jan. 81. Mr.. d.
\. Thomas, NJ. p, OF Cardiff.
Wales, one Of the largest coal
mine owners of Great Britain,
arrived in Washington today
and called upon President Taft.
When Mr.. Thomas left Eng
land IL was announced his pur-
pose was TO inspect and pur-
chase coal mines in West Vir-
ginia, Southwest Virginia and
Kentucky to make the South
American consumers who are
customers of the English com
pauies independent of the un-
certain situation in Wales.
Accompanied by Congress-
man Bascom G.. Slemp, Mr.
Thomas and wife, and Miss
Jemison, of Ireland, "a personal
friend of the Thomas family.
were cordially received at the
Whiteilouse, where MIR. Thomas
and the president engaged i'm
hearty conversation for over
an hour
Upon leaving the White
House, Congressman Slemp
took the party to the capitol
and introduced them 60 Speak
er Champ Clark and several
other prominent congressman
and senators, after which they
went Sightseeing about the can
itol buildings.
Mr. Thomas, who served as a
member of the English parlia-
tnent for over twenty Years. is
in this country for the purpose
OF studying conditions in the
coal mining districts of South
west Virginia West Virginia
aud Kentucky. He sailed with
ms party from England ON the
Mauretania january 10Th. and
after spending several days in
conference with several coal
barous ia Wall Street. left New
orS yesterday in his private
car for am inspection OF the coal
mines
me announcement which
was made when | left ENGLAND
that my visit was for the pur-
pose of purchasing coal fields
IN southwestern Virginia, West
Virginia and Kentucky" sis
true 10 "A certain degree. Nv
primary purpose, however. is To-
make thorough study of the
coal mining Industry Of the
United States, especially with
regard 20 the export trade.
IL am the president of the
Cambrian Commission. AN M
ISOLATION of mine owners which
LED the opposition TO the de
mands of the strikers in the
WEIGH mines last year, but con
trary TO report, 10 is not our
purpose to acquire coal mines
IN the United States as a weap.
on against the Welch miners
Some members of the commls.
sion suggested that if we owned
mines IN Southwest Virginia
and West Virginia. we could
supply all our customers from
these mines, should we be con
tronted with further strikes
and unreasonable demands on
the part of Welsh mine employ
ees. This would be quite feast.
die, Of course, but we have ar
ranged matters with our men
now and do not anticipate any
serious trouble for some time
We have met with consider
able difficulty of late in secur-
ing contracts for coal deliveries
at Mediterranean points, it be
ing pointed out that our delive-
~ was uncertain owing to la
Dor troubles. Numerous con
tracts have been taken right
from under our nose by Ameri-
can coal producers who empha-
sized this very point and point
ed TO the stability of American
production.
If the English mine owners.
whom | represent, should ac.
quire mines III this country we
could guarantee prompt deliv.
cry at all times and meet the