The sun., 1916-12-01

Upon the combustion of coal depends
the operation of our mills and facto-
ries, the running Of railroad trains.
warmth for our habitations and heat
for the preparation OF food for the
table. Gas. oil and electricity take
part in this provision, but to a COM
paratively small degree. Without coal
the processes Of our civilization would
cease. With an inadequate supply
they will be seriously deranged. Upon
the verge OF winter. when coal Is most
needed and when its mining and trans
portation are most difficult. We are con-
fronted with an inadequate supply. The
cause is directly traceable to the lack OF
a sufficient number Of miners and la
borers In the mines. to the lack Of ade-
quate railroad facilities. and to the un-
willingness OF miners and laborers to
increase their exertions in order to re-
lieve the pressing necessities OF their
fellowmen. Demand has increased In
relation to supply, and supply Is d.
minishing in relation to the demand.
Therefore prices rise.
Coal from the bituminous fields Is
that principally used. Anthracite also
large cities Of the East 1t Is OF the first
Importance. The bituminous coal used
in the Eastern States comes mostly
from the fields extending along the
eastern slope of the Appalachian range
in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Virginia.
Two years ago this country was In
an industrial depression deepened by
the war which for the time had
wrought havoc with our export and
import trade. There were then more
miners than were needed to dig the
coal for which there was demand and
more railroad cars than were required
for its transportation to the markets
Early in 1915 when the belligerent ma
tions resorted to this country for
arms munitions, food and clothing.
mills and factories that had been
working part time worked overtime
and then began the ceaseless opera
ton twenty-four hours a day that
has continued. In greater proportion
our raw cotton is made into fabrics
in the mills OF this country and the
extending manufacture OF automobiles
further increased the consumption Of
coal. There had been "A marked mi
grafton of laborers from this country
to Europe for enlistment In the ar
mics of their native lands. The high
prices received for munitions per-
mitted the payment OF high wages to
laborers. and they flowed from the
mines and railroads to the factories.
This change OF employment was fos-
tered by agents Of the factories. who
sought laborers wherever they could
find them.
AS the mills and factories came TO
work twenty-four hours a day, day in
and day out. their demand for ma
| terials increased. This enhanced the
demand for transportation that was
further augmented by the necessity
| for the conveyance OF supplies for
Europe to the seaboard and OF supplies
| for our home markets for which rising
prosperity brought a rising demand.
| The railroads needed to run more
| trains, and therefore to burn more
coal. More men were needed in the
mines and more men were needed on
| the railroads at the same time that
the available supply of workmen was
being drained by the mills and fac
| tories that were busy not only In maxi
! ing the things for immediate use in
this country and abroad, but in pro-
viding the structural material and ma
chincry for additional mills and fac
! tories for which there was urgent
need. The prices of coal rose to heights
/ hitherto unknown. The rates OF pay
: of the miners and mine laborers had
been advanced IL TO 20 per cent. and
more. The operators say that these
advances instead Of stimulating them
Ia work harder encouraged them TO
diminish their efforts. This is because
they are content with the same aggre-
/ gate wage that now accrues with less
work in shorter hours, The miners
| discontinu" work on all the various
holidays Of the different nationalities
Moreover there has been an unusual
number Of strikes FOR petty causes that
have thrown mines into idlcncss foi
DAYS and sometimes for weeks.
Not only has the demand for coal
for domestic cOnstlmptiou iuCrca Sod