The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-10-30
DEMAND THAT THE
GOVERNMENT SHALL ACT

coal fields of this country, as aseer-
tanned by the Geological Survey. is
45O,839 square miles. including S9.4S2
square miles supposed, but not def
nitely known, to contain disable coal.
and 2s.47O square miles in which coal
lies under cover 1000 or more feet in
thickness. The estimated available
supply at the present time is approx
mately s,530,5OO 1928 900 tons. or sufi-
Gent to meet the demands of the ma
ton, making allowances for growth
of population, far into future centu-
ries. Thus, the basic fuel supply Of
the country is a matter wholly re-
moved from the question of produc-
ton. Nature has provided for man 3
needs in this particular. The almost
inexhaustible store Of coal is subject
to no conditions, climatic or other,
as from season to season may affect
the crops. Yet the supply of coal
within reach of the people is alarm
ingly short; the price which they are
asked, and practically forced. to pay
for it. is now abnormally high.
Certain powerful interests are in
control of the coal output, its distribu-
ton, and its selling price to the con-
sumner. These have, from time to
time, undertaken to explain to the
satisfaction of the consumer why he
must pay an eyer-increasing price for
their product, Notwithstanding that
the value of the coal in the mine is
unaffected by external influences. He
is told, for example, that the cost of
mining has advanced, and he admits
this. He is told that the cost of trans
porting coal has advanced, and he ad-
mits this. He is told that the cost OF
distributing and selling coal has ad-
yanced, and he admits this. But, hay
ing added all OF these increased costs
to the price per ton of coal, say, five
years ago, he finds a startling pes
centage of the advance during that
period unaccounted for, and concludes
that the mine operators are oyercharg-
ing him simply because they have 1t
in their power, through combination
and monopoly, to do Sc.
The Federal government, by reason
of exegencies OF war, has recently I'M
dertaken to fix the price of coal at
the mines, with the design of ultimate
ly prescribing an equitable scale OF
rates for the benefit of the consumer.
The rates fixed for the mines, con-
sidered in the light of all the facts,
struck disinterested students of the
situation as being liberal. The public
accepted them as a just basis upon
which jobbing, wholesale and retail
prices would promptly be established.
Little that is practically effective has
thus far come of the proposed ar
rangement. The fuel administrator,
DR.. Garfield, appointed by the Presi-
dent and given almost plenary powers,
has not yet succeeded in bringing the
operators TO terms. Obstacles of va
rious kinds have been placed in his
way.
The most serious phase of obstruc-
ton to the operation of the machinery
of the government in this respect re-
mains to be referred to. Production
at the mines is being interferred with
is being interrupted, in many cases
has been entirely stopped, by strikes
of mysterious and sinister origin
Some of the largest mines in the Mid
die West were recently shut down.
One-third of the coal miners in Hi
nois were idle. Twenty-six mines in
Indiana suspended for a time all op.
erations. Great strikes among miner
have either occurred or have been
threatened in Ohio. Missouri, Kansas
Oklahoma and Arkansas. Chicago %
running on a scant supply of fun
The Governor of Illinois, who had thu
situation well in hand, and who wa
the mines of that state when the Fed
eral authorities assumed control, haa
again been appealed to by manufac
turers and others to exercise his au
thority TO avert what seemed to D,
an imminent industrial crisis.
In this emergency, DR.. Garfield has
issued a statement in which he plainly
in ffmafoo that .,nlaoa o1.f ~u-asu