Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-10
Ill. COAL DISPUTE
WILL Be DISPOSED
Of BY FUEL CHIEF

Frs WILL LET DR.. CARTEL
SETTLE WAGE CONTROVERSY
NOW DIVIDING TWO FACTIONS
FACTIONS.
Springfield. Sept l0-Ilinois coal
fate Il now up te Dr Harry A. Gar
field. national fuel administrator The
question sim he placed in his hands
by heads Of the state ana national
coal miners union in Washington
Tuesday. This anouneement was
made today By local union and mine
operators officials who are as much a
sea tbday over the ultimate outcome
Of the situation as ever, despite The
meeting recently held in indianapolis
at weicb The question OF wage in
crease to miners was discussed.
Frank Harrington, president Of The
Illinois United Mine Workers of Amer
lea left here Saturday for Washing
ton &here he viii participate in fhe
meeting Tuesday Besides the iii,
nois Representatives. delegates from
ohios Indiana and Pennsylvania win
Be present at he Washington confer
ence9
"fiecause Of the high cost OF living.
the miners must have an increase in
wages, Mr. Harrington said before
leaving for Washington That means
an Increase in the price Of coal since
the illinois operators cannot pay an
increase and sell at the price fixed
BY tlh government
Alhaaeh but little was accomplish.
ed az the meeting in indianapolis 10.
cal operators are somewhat consoled
by the announcement that DR. Garfield
will meet the International union OF,
ficers and the presidents Of four states
IN Washington Tuesday. There il a
belief that the miners viii be persnad.
ed To- remain a work without an in.
crease in wages until the first Of April,
whelE their contract expires. accord.
ing to one Of the leading operators
here's
Coal Output in Big Jump.
Springfield, Sept l0-The output Of
coal mines In Illinois for The fiscal
year sending July was fifteen million
msree tons than the previous year.
aceoMling TO Evan y Johns, director
Of the department Of mines and min
Inc 4 IN statistics just compiled by
Mr.. John The exact coal production is
1lacoe al 78,9i5,905 tons as compared
with t3bla,53iifnr he preceding year
Tho pigures show that in only l79
laysadid the mines Of the state break
ne lpcord fer the years output. This
retutcs The belief among
many that the present coal price and
ear shortage agitation has decreased
the production. These figures. Direc.
tor Johns declares. Uphold President
Wilson and Governor Lowden III fhair
agreement that recent coal prices arc
excessive and that The Illinois prices
liked Al Washington are reasonable
Working not more than three.
tonrylts Of full force, mines gapa h.
2l23sb more tons, and are capable If
9 much larger advance, the reDDrt
shows, The department Of mines and
mining calculates that Illinois even
oofofa i Is put to its limit, can pro.
luce 1o0000Q00 Tons a year. This
may he recognized from the fact that
there We're only seven more mines at
WorE.i IN 1917 nan in 1916. Th, .olal.
number Of mines included in the re,
port Afe $40 employing S0.8I9 men. an
nereaee Of 1900 more than a year be.
fore From this the department con
Guides that The shortage Of workers
complained Of by the coal operators is
1ot aB serious as implied. h
Further statistics compiled by Mr.
lohnh show that mines of the state
Nofhqd an average Of lG3 days in 1916
and wv days in 1917. This increase
y - days for the record year and
he 5000 additional mon indicates
nat me ono hundred million tons a
year II more than possibility.
Breaking a record cost Illinois min.
NJ tprtytWo more lives. There we're
w fatal accidents ibis year. t65 last {
feaF The only decrease noted is nm. t
lef me heading tons Of coal to ecah y
lIe lasl' which Is Of no significance +
'Eeont that The greater output meant Z
ne greater risk There were 3Sf3S1 |
ems IIAs year compared with 3S5g0o 5
? l9l6, decrease ol 1919 ions. The
alto of fatalities per 1000 men en- !
lloyad was thus increased The rate q
y increase was 30 per cent; IN 1917 d
.56' IN 1916 217 [
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