The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-03
DR.. Garfield Promises a Rul-
ing in Their Favor Very
Shortly.
SITUATION IS EXPLAINED.
West Virginians Took up the
Cudgels for the Little
Operator.

Especial Dispatch to West Virginism
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 3.-Re-
lief for wagon mines in West Virginia,
as elsewhere, was promised by Fuel
Administrator Garfield to a delegation
composed of Senator Sutherland, Rep.
resentatives Cooper and Reed, and
Messrs. Wells GoodyGoontz. b. Ran.
dolph Bias and {. Nj. Gates, who were
present as representatives Of small
rhine oWners-wagon mines-ot the
state, especially in their section in and
around the vicinity OF Williamson, w.
Va. congressman Slemp OF Virginia,
and Langley, of Kentucky, were also
in the party, their districts beng inter
ested in the business i'll hand.
The conference lasted tor couple
Of hours, and every man present had
lis say. 1t was shown that the pres.
Cnt rulings had shut down thousands
OF little mines throughout the country
VINO couldn't operate on 81 basis
strictly, let alone being denied the priv
ilege OF adding haulage costs with a
reasonable profit included and handl-
capped by illiberal terms as to cars Tor
shipment. In and near about Harrison
county, Congressman Reed told Mr..
GARFIELD that there were 81 OF these lit.
lie wagon mines running few weeks
ago, and probably half of them had
been forced to quit. In all the country,
It. was brought out and so stated by Mr..
Garfield that there we're in the neigh.
borhood Of $4,000 mines of this class.
The case made out was strong, one
and resulted in the promise that such
rules would be made and announced
SIortly which will enable all these lit
lie mines to do their bit, and the new
rule. mir. Garfield SAID, applying TO cars
ICr them would make the loading OF d
car within twenty-iour hours OF its de.
livery to them, imperative. He prom.
iaed the new regulations would meet
the complaints presented and would
cover the case of the wagon mines
reasonably" as to profits permitted
and otherwise.
\ similar promise was made with
reference to mines with a minimum
vein, frequently interspersed with a
stratum OF dirt and slate, which costs
more to operate than mines of larger
veins and better grade coal,
One idea which at was evident, that
the fuel administrator had was that
the shut down of wagon mines wouIo
cause the miners working in them to
seek work at the big mines, and thus
production would not be seriously
hurt. The argument that members of
The visiting delegation made against
that was that men who worked wagon
mines were not miners in the regular
sense. but we're men OF the farm and
other avocations, whose homes were
nearby, and that they had no desire
TO follow the business up in big mines
under conditions which prevailed at
those larger plants. 1t was argued
that very small number OF them COM
paratively could be forced to continue
in the business with the shutdown of
the wagon mines, and that the result
would be almost total loss in both
men and production, both of which, of
course, were sorely needed.
The delegation left with the feeling
that the wagon or small mine industry
is soon to have the determinations
aid against 1t removed, and more lib
eral rules provided. This Mr.. Garfield
promised. With that come to pass. and
revision Of coal prices upward as
now forecasted, this new branch of
the great coal industry will be safely
protected from now on.