The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-22
CLOSE KANSAS MINES


will see that mines are operated in
Kansas. And that means all mines,
including those in the Usage field.
We will watch the coal production and
the car shortage problem and will in
sist that Kansas receive her share of
the output. The state has power to
enforce a square deal and for getting
her share of the production. The gov
eminent order, even tho orders are not
made affecting retailers. will mean a
reduction in present prices and assur-
ances that prices cannot go higher
At the retail offices of the Jackson
Walker company there was bitter crit
icism of the agitation which resulted
in the establishment of government
rate standards. An ai- of defiance also
lows, local manager
Still Blaming Papers.
Jackson-Walker interests control
heavy production in Kansas, includ-
ing interests in the Usage county
fields Their production in Kansas,
including sub-contracts amounts to
practically a million tons q year, ac-
cording to statement this week by
George Walker of Kansas City. one of
the directing officials of cns company.
Asked for an Interpretation of the
government action in controlling coal
prices, Fellows exploded.
DO you want to know what I
Think" asked the manage
The State Journal rep ,rrer wanted
to know.
We'll, you couldn't print it," said
Fellows. 81 can tell you tho that the
Topeka newspapers have shot the coal
business all to -'
Regarding the effect of the govern
ment action, Fellows was filled with
deep-rooted pessimism.
How the -- do you expect us to
operate when prices are fixed below
the price of actual production" de-
manded Fellows. I'VE have thousands
of tons of coal on hands. Do you think
we are going to sell it at a loss?"
Fellows declared he had received
no direct or official information re-
garding the policy of his company in
the operation of its Kansas mines. Not
| only does the Jackson-Walker organi-
zation operate heavily in Kansas, but
nois fields.
situation Is Worse
| Over the long distance telephone,
| John Mayer, of the Mayer Coal COM
| pany, of Kansas City, today told the
| State Journal that the prices fixed by
worse than before" He asserted
that the shortage which he says oper-
| ators are now struggling to overcome.
will be made worse by impossibility
of number of mines to operate.
| Mr.. Mayer stated that the prices
mite information. 1t has been under
| stood among Kansas operators, he
said. that the president would fix a
| differential scale of prices to apply to
thick and thin vein mines The big
thick vein mines, he asserted, may be
able to operate under the prices but
| the thin vein mines will find opera
! ton out of the question.
The Kansas City operator refused
to estimate the number of mines that
4a1 brr hi hi n
will be forced to shut down.
THE majority of our mines are old
| ones" he said, land the older the
mines, the higher the cost of opera
ton and production"
Usage Mines to Close.
Mr.. Walker, of the. Jackson Walker
interests, was sure the Usage mines
was supported by reports received by
the State Journal from Burlingame
and Usage City. In the Usage district
operators declared they could not gel
coal to the top of the ground for the
prices fixed.
This proposition" said Mr.. Walker
sis going to receive more sober AND
serious consideration from now on
The public is suffering from a sort OF
lintoxication. Under the way things
are going now lot of big coal com
panies are going to be put out OF
business"
The Walker ~president, Ii
being interviewed over the telephone
did not miss a chance to take q whacf
at the Topeka newspapers. He said
they were responsible for the most Of
this muss."
There must be decided changes in
the prices fixed for the Kansas
mines" he asserted. 81 think Presi
dent Wilson is perfectly sincere in set
ting the prices, but they are going t.
produce an effect that he hasn't real
ICED.
1.-The driving of the smaller mine.
out of business is not fair. Yes. the
coal operators will cooperate with the
government in every way possible t.
obtain an adequate supply and set fail
prices"
Dispatch From Pittsburg
The following Associated Press dis.
patch was received today from Pitts
burg, KAN:
kansas coal operators probably viii
make no definite plans for meeting
the price setting move of Presiden1
Wilson until more definite information
comes officially from Washington.
We have no way of knowing