Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-30
.IOWANS WANT
CHEAPER COAL
GOVERNOR AND THREE MAYORS
MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO
PRESIDENT.

10 President Wilson, dispatched last
night, Governor Harding and Mayors
McVjcar of Des Moines, Snyder OF
Council Bluffs and McNutt of Musca-
tine demanded reduction of the prices
Axed by the federal fuel adminlstra-
tor for Iowa coal. They base tnelI
demand on the evidence produced az
the hearings which have been con-
Quoted at Governor Harding's once
before the four officials, by Clinoro
Thorne. acting as representative 1or
the Iowa League of Municipalities.
The telegram to the president FOL
lows: 49,.
public hearing on the coal situa'
finn in Iowa has been conducted De-
fore the governor and three mayors
representing the League OF Iowa Mu-
inequalities. =.
"The investigation covered cost OF
producing coal at the mouth OF the
nine the amount of coal In the state
and distribution.
OPERATORS REFUSE DATA.
"Coal operators, miners, small and
large users of coal, railroads and re-
tailers were invited to appear ana
present their views and such facts
and information as they had, and all
responded except a few coal opera
tors. who banded together, refusing
to give information. Evidence, how.
ever was produced by large and small
GENERATORS, representative Of the state.
1.-THE hearing lasted four days.
Every phase of the subject was COW
cred, and information formerly Sc
cured was also made part OF the
record in the case. All OF this IN
formation is in shorthand and Will De
furnished to you and the federal trade
commission, if desired.
COST At THE MINE.
~From the information before us,
We find that the extreme cost of pro-
duction at the mouth Of the mine ls
1925 per ton at the present time.
Operators appearing before us testl-
fed to costs at the present time
ranging from $3.50 to $2.25 per ton.
This includes labor, supplies, deprecia-
ton and all other costs.
1.-THE record also shows that under
normal conditions operators have
been satisfied with profit over cost
of production at the mouth of the
mine of from 10 to 1914 cents per
fixed price does~permit of profits az
gregating more than 100 per cent on
the investment in these properties.
This was conceded OF record by &C
tual operators, under oath, on the
witness stand.
DECREASE RECOMMENDED.
'Ir view Of the above finding OF
facts and the intense public interest
and feeling aroused because OF the
great increase in the price of coal
since August /, 1917, we recommend
that the price Of Iowa coal in the va
rious districts be based upon the
above information, and that the pres.
ent excessive prices be reduced at the
earliest possible moment.
1--WE find there is no substantial
shortage Of cars in the state, that the
mines are operating to their full ca
pacity so far as labor conditions will
permit, and that labor is cooperating
in every possible way.
''If this information is questioned
from any source, we pray for an op-
portunity to hear and answer such OBJ
jections."
FACTS FOR WEBSTER.
It was the decision of the judges
after an executive session late yester-
day afternoon together with Clifford
Thorne, counsel for the league and
examining attorney, that the question
of price should be presented to the
president of the United States and
that the question of distribution
should be referred to the federal fuel
administrator for Iowa, Charles Web
ster.
All material gathered by the mu
nicipal league will be released to the
coal administrator.
The following is a portion of the
communication addressed to the Goa
administrator: I'VE received reports
from 361 municipalities. Only three
reported conditions as normal, 73 re
ported conditions as good, 1853 report
ed the situation as bad. and 126 re
ported the situation as serious"