The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-06
COAL OPERATORS OF ALABAMA LOOK ID WARRIOR FOR RELIEF
Frank V. Evans Analyzes Present Situation in the
 Coal Industry
PROSPERITY SLOW
 TO REACH MINES
Commercial Coal Trade Below Normal on Account of Mild Winter, Exces- sive Freight Rates and Substitu-
 tion of Electricity by Power Co.

sive Freight Rates and Substitu-
 tion of Electricity by Power Co.
 That the coal operators of Alabama are looking with increasing longing toward the Warrior river as an outlet from Ala bama, was the, statement of Frank V. Evans, connected in an official capacity with the operators association. Mir. Evans, in a statement for The Age Herald, analysed the coal situation in the state and the reasons why the prosperity that is being felt in other industrial lines is not being manifested to the same de- gree in the coal industry
 sIt is fondly hoped,'' says MT. Evans, "by the Alabama interests that this water route will make possible a market in Central and South America and perhaps in transatlantic markets
 MT Evans statement follows:
 EVANS STATEMENT
 ''The public mind seems to be sur charged with the erroneous impression that the mining business of the Alabama coal field is enjoying a period of pros perity beyond that condition which really exists; and that the coal operators are reaping superabundant returns from their investments and opera tions.
 True conditions and actual figures fail to justify such optimistic impress sions. According to the report of the state mine inspector the coal output of Alabama in 1913 was 17,907,2 ,2S4 tons; that of 1915 was 15,266,S21 tons.
 While times, are good in some lines of industrial endeavor, this optimistic hue cannot now be applied to the Ala bama coal mining industry. Quite true, there is, and has been, an increase in iron and steel production, after a long season of expensive waiting. Up to now, this activity has just about offset the season of inertia and waiting, and the real profits of time and investments are yet to come.
 While consumption of coal by the iron furnaces and steel mills has assumed normal conditions, commercial coal trade, for causes patent, is considerably below normal. The domestic market has suf- fered by the mldness of the winter sea- son, by excessive freight rates and by the substitution of electricity produced by the Alabama Power company.
 HAS TO BE WASHED
 Tt must be remembered that unlike the product of competitive fields, Alaba ma coal has to be washed, and that the estab- lishment and application of washeries is of imnfense cost and beyond the invest ing ability of the smaller coal companies, which really constitute the majority of domestic coal producers in this district
 The public seems to look upon coal as being solely an adjunct to iron and steel production, and regards the iron and steel market as an infallible ba- rometer of the coal trade This is fallacious in that coal is commodity dependable upon other than manufac- turing production.
 Alabama coal is confronted by re- stricted market that seems to have been diminishing since 1913, the real banner year. Geographically, this coal section has peculiar limitations. Look upon the vast expanse of territory in the south that is unoccupied or unin- habited and compare this section with the population and wheels of industry which vivify the middle west and the eastern states. When such population and industry cover the latent places of the south, and not until then, will the coal mines of north Alabama find close-by profitable outlet for their product.
 HANDICAPPED BY RATES
 "At one time Alabama coal engaged the markets of west Tennessee and northern Mississippi. Now the freight rates on the western Kentucky coal allow free competition with the Ala bama as well as with the east Tennes- see operators.
 Tt is a fact worth mentioning here that the Southern railway supplies sev- eral of its chutes not many miles from Birmingham with coal mined in east Tennessee. The Mobile and Ohio, the Frisco and other railroads go into the open market and haul their own coa, from points of production where they can buy cheapest regardless of freight. It is the business of their fuel agents to get coal at lowest cost to the rail- roads without an application of senti- ment. Therefore, it is mistake to es- timate that increased railroad traffic is proving a boon to the Alabama opera tors.
 LOOK TO WARRIOR
 'To be sure the Alabama operators are casting about for wider fields; but this campaign for trade is in it's in- cipiency. They are turning attention ot the Warrior river waterway through which they can reach the gulf ports, New Orleans and Mobile, in competi- tion with the low water rates. afforded the western miners by the Mississippi river. It is fondly hoped by the Ala bama interests that this water route will make possible market in Central and South America and perhaps in transatlantic markets; but this is for the future to determine, and picture of the possibility or even probability of a consummation of the wish does not relieve the present situation. H. Grady Webb's Property