Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-22
CORPORATIONS FEAR
COAL STRIKE AND STORE
MANY MILLION TONS
Two Agreements With Miners
Expire April 1, and Men Are
Believed to Contemplate
Walkout
CAR SHORTAGE IMPENDS

Car shortages. scarcity Of labor in the
coal fields. war wages and April 1, 1916!
These four things are giving the large
manufacturers of this city much concern.
Some coal is coming to this city in car
loads and as fast as It arrives 1t is be-
ing stored b. the purchasers. Others
cannot get their orders filed because Of
car shortages and scarcity of labor in
the coal fields, and are keeping the wires
busy in an effort to obtain fuel for an
Increased consumption.
What Is the cause for this demand for
coal? why are manufacturers buying in
the middle of winter with cellars already
full? There are two answers to the ques-
tions-first. an increase Of consumption
due to war orders, and, second, April l,
1916.
on that date the agreement between
the miners and the operators in both the
bituminous and anthracite fields termi-
mates. Ii Will be the first time in many
years that the agreements in each sepa-
rate field terminate on the same date.
and should there be a general strike in
both fields the supply of fuel will be en-
tirely cut off.
While manufacturers are optimistic
with respect to n general strike at that
time however. II is declared that the
chances are one in 10 for n general strike,
and that the one chance is responsible
for the demand on the part of certain
large manufacturers.
A person close to the affairs of the
Pennsylvania Railroad said today that
the company has already stored 100000
tons of coal at various points along its
lines, and as fast as 1t can be mined the
company is storing II at certain other
bases In Camden recently the citizens
protested because Il large amount of coal
was stored the railroad property in
, such way as to obstruct the view from
4 their homes.
In the yard adjoining the factory Of
the John b. Stetson Company on 9th
street north Of Columbia avenue there
are piled 5000 tons of coal. Residents OF
the neighborhood say that 1t Is the first
time in years that they have seen so
much coal in the yard at one time
! j. Howell Cummings, president of the
company, said today that the company
was buying coal and storing it there
as precautionary measure.
I'VE always keep 1000 or 5000 tons of
coal ahead of our needs" Mr.. Cummings
said. land since we buy by contract. it
costs the same In the winter as in the
summer. There is one chance In ten
OF strike in the coal fields, and IL is
well to keep an eye on the one chance.
IL dealer in San Francisco should send
us an order in April or May for cou-
pie OF dozen hats, 1t would be poor bust
ness form to say that we couldn't
supply them because we had no coal,
wouldn't it?"
Ten cars of coal. representing about
6O tons, are on n siding of the Bement.
Miles & Co. plant of the Miles Bement-
Pond Company, at 2lst and Hamilton
streets. I'VE just bought little coal as
precautionary measure" said w j.
Hagaman, the general manager of the
concern. You know we are pretty busy
and have orders that will keep us GO
ing for several months to come. Also
the agreement between the miners and
operators in the coal fields terminates
on the first of April. 1t will be the first
time In several years that the ageements
In the bituminous and anthracite fields |
end at the same time. One cannot tell |
what might happen, so 1t is best to be
prepared"
On the other hand, many manufac-
turers are unable to obt,in the coal nee |
essary to their increased output. An off, |
cial of the Baldwin Locomotive Works |
said that the increased demand for coal |
due to the large war orders and the !
shortage OF cars was the cause of this !
situation. The Baldwin people are using |
about $500 tons of coal each week in |
their plants at Eddystone and In this |
city. The inability of operators to full /
ful their contracts have compelled the |!
company 10 buy spot coal in several in |
u.25 per ton and spot coal is now be- |
tween $3.50 and S2.75 per ton.
Many OF the cars that would be carry |
ing coal at this time of the year are tied |
up in or near New York with war ru- |
nitions waiting for ships to carry them |
TO Europe. The official reports OF the /
Pennsylvania Railroad today show that
there are $3.50 cars stored east OF Phila-
delphia and $3.50 on all lines waiting TO be /
moved to New York. These 93lO cars will /
have TO remain on the sldlngs until yes-
sells can be obtained to carry their prod
ucts 10 Europe. The situation is due
entirely to the war and did not exist a
year ago.
Coal operators In this city declared
today that they were confronted with a
car shortage, but refused to discuss the
labor situation. 1t was pointed out, how
ever, that many laborers have deserted
the coal fields for the higher wages Of
fered in the munitions factories. and
that the operators are confronted with
q labor shortage which cannot be re-
lieved because of the decreased immi-
grafton. In some instances wages have
been raised TO keep the men at work.
while in others the men have walked :
out because of the money stringency the
operators are facing on account of their
inability 10 make deliveries.
The consensus or opinion is that the
artificial increase in wages due TO war |
orders is causing dissatisfaction among |
the miners and that demands for a gem
eral increase will be made in April One
manufacturer went so far as 10 say that
he believed there would be "A general !
walkout at that time which would Grip
pie the mines for at least go or 30 days.
Others natly refused to make any pre-
dictions. One thing IS certain, that is
that the manufacturers expect something
and are storing coal In preparation for 1t.