The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1917-09-14
Senator King and Congressman yelling See
Administrator Garfield On Behalf
OF Carbon Producers.

WASHINGTON. -. g.. Sept. S.
Through Senator King and itepresen-
tativc yelling the Utah coal mine
owners have submitted 90 Dr. VI. a.
Garfield. coal administrators. a state
mcut Of conditions In Utah. In which
u b. said that the miners Of Utah are
charged with the duty ~ furnishing
fuel Co the states of Idaho. Nevada.
California. Washington and Montana,
us well ~ the people IN Utah Tho
statement In part follows:
There h. at present fuel famine
throughout all Of these states This
situation H. aggravated boy the fact
that 'hc Union Pacific Coal company
has now withdrawn entirely from the
commercial market This fuel fam
Inc viii grow In intensity as the war
approaches. AZ the present time "a
large proportion of the threshcrs in
the wheat fields are unable to opcr-
ate because 81 lack Of fucl No sugar
factory throughout this territory O.
supplied with enough fuel Tor uHr and
through "a large part uf the territory
mentioned NO coal whatever iH aVuil-
able. ~ ~ therefore essential that
every mine In Utah be- operated ne IT,
fullest capacity and that the output
be properly distributed.
Heretofore the mines ~ Utah have
received n schedule of prices Tor their
product ranging from Heycnty-five
cents q ton for slack 90 about $3.50
per ton for lump. Before the war he
gan the mines had very generally en-
tered into contract. furnishing v large
proportion OF their tonnage az prices
much below the schedule published
~ the president These prices now
prove 20 he inadequate, Since the
presidents proclamation they are PRO.
hibitod from selling the prepared
grade. known a. lump coal. NJ the
prices they have been receiving. Ia.
bor IL receiving higher wages and
mining machinery " costing three
times AZ much 40 before the war.
Powder ~ more expensive and the
producers state that u they are pre-
vented from ruling orders at priccs
higher than those pubiiHhcd hy the
president. hut AZ the same time are
compelled under contract To- fill orders
nt prices much lower than the said
schedule. they will not he able o. OPP
crate their mines except NJ great loss
Something like 40 per cent of theft
products n sold IN advance for the
coming year. either under contract at
by standing accepted orders The
producers are willing and anxious I,
comply with the law. They nHk tha
In case they are prevented from fillini
the standing orders Tor lump coal a.
prices above the schedule published
hy the president. by the same author
~ they should bc relieved of the dutl
of nilinE contracts al prices below th'
schedule
1t would appear advlsahl" und~
the circumstances that the president
sdict be made applicable 90 all pro
ducern aud 90 all consumers aud tina
an contracts made before tho wa
conditions obtained be- ahroEatCd an
der the war powers of the president
These contracts are not only oppres
rivc conditions. hut are also deu
tai Co the public interest IN the fac
that they prevent AN equitable distri
button OF coal Many corporations ar
securing coal In large quantities be
low cost of production. 40 the cNpvnH
of small consumers. while whole com
munitlcH are deprived uf necessary
fuel Some az these larger consum
.ra have contracts covering aa mucl
az a half million tons per year aud I
obliged 90 submit 20 the proper dis
trihution OF the fuel supply woul,
probably add 90 the total output h'
opening up new mines In the state e
provide for their own necessities. Thi
would tend 10 relieve the coal famine
IAN agreements therefore calling
FOR prices either higher or lower thar
the presidents published schedule
should be abrogated In the public lu
terest. There should be- no prcfcrrc,
consumers. Public interest demand
there should he no discrimination a.
prices against the small consumer IL
favor OF the corporations"
II Ia expected definite action vii
soon be taken by the fuel administra'
tor 90 adjust the Utah situation.