The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-11
OPERATORS mot
TO BLAME AYERS
COL. WHEELNR|GHT
Head of Consolidation Says
Government Should Real
| ize This.
DOING PATRIOTIC DUTY
Want to Help the Govern
ment in Every Way
They Can.

the Consolidation Coal company yes.
terday gave Baltimore Sun reporter
an interview on the fuel situation
which is bound to attract much atten.
ton not only because OF the impor.
lance Of Col. Wheelwlsight in the
coal industry, but because of the
broad gauge character OF the view he
expressed. The position he takes Isl
set forth briefly in the following
statement:
''If the government feels that
It can best win the war by taking
over the mines, then will be the
first to advocate the step. I am
heartily in favor OF any policy
which will bring success to the
country, but 1t seems to me that
the initial step would be to as.
certain how far the mine owners
are to blame for the present
conditions as it affects coal"
After referring to the car shortage
situation as set for in the reports
Of Secretary Lawson, OF the Central
West Virginia Coal Operators Asso.
citation. Col. Wheelwright continued:
er that we have had. we find that
conditions in the FairmontC larks-
burg field are even worse than they
were last week. Practically no cars
are at our disposal. The Baltimore
& Ohio and the chesapeake & Ohio
and the st. Louis and Nashville are
Just not in = position 20 take care OF
the business. -.
"a serious situation does exist but
the government should first ascertain
who Is actually responsible for this
condition. Fuel Is the first of the
essential things for carrying on tie
war and the coal companies have
been and are cooperating in every
possible manner with the United
States Government in supplying the
tremendous demand for fuel that
comes from the great industries that
are turning out munitions and sup
plies for the use of our army and
navy. For instance, the Consolidation
Coal Company complies with every
suggestion that is made from Wash.
ington.
mo one will realize that the ship
ping departmental coal companies
one Of Sthe most important depats.
want to say that we make no move
in his department without consulting
with the fuel administration, so 1t
is with other phrases Of our business.
We are endeavoring to give the gov.
eminent the fullest cooperation in the
! present abnormal situation.
But the coal companies have had
to meet the problem ofa car short.
age. The railroads are not supply.
ing US with the equipment that is alb.
| soluately essential in meeting the
present situation. The fuel admin.
istration has stated that It will be
necessary to increase the annual pro.
duction by millions of tons. How can
this be done when there Is no means
OF shipping the fuel from the mines?
We are trying to do<our patriotic
duty and the thought uppermost in
our minds is to help the government
come out victorious In the great Eu.
ropean struggle. II we are not doing
our duty, then the next to do is for
the government to step in and oper.
ate our coal mines. However. before
this is attempted to does seem that
tn fair and Just thing to do is to first
ascertain whether the coal operators
are to blame for present conditions g
Coal Boom Some Day for Warrington
Warrington is going to have It's
coal boom some OF these days and
when It comes a piece of real estate
up that way will be worth having
and coal land will bring fabulous
prices. The coal is deep up Manning
ton way and will require shafts but
the fine Wien OF Pittsburgh coal Will
be well worth going after for 1t Is
ten feet thick on an average with
other veins above 1t. The exact depth
Of the Pittsburgh vein is not adver.
tised by the South Penn Oil Co., when
It drills through It, but It is no
ticed that that company is holding
on to coal around Warrington which
is in accordance with its .usual bus.
mess wisdom. :
There Is not single coal develop.
ment in Warrington district at pres.
ent and people around the town are
holding on TO their coal land with
! Continued on Page (2)
-a krP tRny RYs