The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-10
MAY RESULT IN
CHEAP Err COAL
NEW LAW WILL PREVENT THE
WASTE, INCREASE EMPLOY
MENT, LESSEN DANGER.

WilburtOn Okla, July S.-Many
coal miners have lived in Oklahoma
for years and have about exhausted
their patience waiting for the coal
industry to assume its rightful place
N the scheme of things. The mines
have run so irregularly that a miner,
IN spite Of the big wages he receives,
is unable TO make as much as he
feels is his due. But there is hope in
the field that the day for outside
coal is about over People feel that
the time isn't far distant when Okla
homa coal mines will sell coal at Il
price that will drive foreign coal ont
of the state. Coal consumers could
stand lot of that sort of fight Tha,
the price OF coal in Oklahoma is out
of reason is freely admitted in the
coal fields. When it is pointed out
TO them that coal sells for $500 10
1915 in Indiana and Illinois and for
$500 in Oklahoma, they fall back on
mining conditions.
The main trouble is" said w. y,
Anthony in Wilburton, that our min
ing laws were made by men who did
not know much about mining. They
tend to high prices and ultimately to
extinction for the industry Now the
fact is that the Oklahoma coal terri
tory has been steadily restricted.
The coal operator and miner in Okla
lahoma has felt like the prisoner n
Poe's story. the walls of the prison
constantly closing in on him and no
escape In one direction Oklahoma
can not go 100 miles from the mouth
of the mine. Why? Coal prices are
too high Every person in the coal
fields will admit that the coal IS
to high. But under present conditions
it cannot be lowered without inviting
in the bankruptcy officers at the
same time.
"Now we are seeking to get laws
changed to invite new capital to
open new mines, enlarge the produc-
ton of old mines, mine coal cheaper,
sell it cheaper. reach out after new
markets, install new mining machin-
cry, give more work to the men, keep
the mines working not IA days as aC
present, but 225 days, trifle moro
than the national average. 1t may
not be good for the mine owner to
sell coal cheaper but he will have to
do it. If he doesn't he invites the
Colorado and New Mexico coal in.
Oklahoma people ought to use their
own state mined coal; first, because
ii is actually the best coal in Amer
lea and second, because they can
buy as cheap as they can any coal
anywhere when we get things 70
working under the new plan.
Revised Laws.
"The coal fields" this gentleman
continued, had two plans offered,
them. First they could reduce wages
and thus cut hep rice of mining
ccal and pass the savings on to the
people. They didn't want to do that.
1t meant a fight great loss to the
miners, to the operators, to the mer
chants and business men, much high
er prices for coal over the state
while the fight lasted. SO they unan-
imously rejected the reduction in
wages plan.
The second plan was decided upon.
A revision of the mining laws and
the stopping of certain practices that
didn't benefit any one certainly and
that lead to great waste of the states
natural resources, endangered the
lives of the men, caused hundreds OF
accidents and brought about the high
Price of Oklahoma coal. This law
doesn't cost a man a cent in wages,
it will save millions to Oklahoma In
reductions in the cost of coal and 1t
will enable the mines to run 225 days
a year instead OF IA, thus bringing
millions IN wages for added employ
ment. That is what miner, mine own
er and merchant ought to desire. 1t
is what the people demand and what
they are going to get"