The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-11-24
Prices of Coal at Mine Not Fixed
Scientifically, Saws Whitcomb

only three grades Of coal, run u
milne. prepared sirss and screenings
Price. No, Scientific
Both tho division Of tho state and
the classification of grades are ob
viousiy unscirntific. and tho prices
were cot % meet an emergency with.
out opportunity 10 gain any bu, IN.
most general knowledge Of local con
ditions. In CONSCIOUSNESS. I decided
very soon after my appointment 10
Investigate tho whole matter In an
effort 70 arrive AZ a scientific classi.
fication % the states rnin~s and 20
figure a mine prize for coal IN zach
81 these divisions which should tn.
sure a fair wage 20 tho miner. a fair
return 20 the producer ard IN. low
80, possible price to the consumer.
Experts Employed
Exports. inclgdlRE Prof Joseph
paniois. 81 the University % wash
inEtnn School % mines. George "
Evans. engineer In charge OF the
local office Of "a. United states
Bureau % mines. and James Hasicy.
state mine inspector. have drawn Up
n tentative re classification Of the
ninss % the state. which would cro
ate five groups instead OF tao. the
mines of each group possessing ap.
proHimaisiy the same difficulties Of
operation and producing approri
maisiy the same grades and varie
ties % coal
"a mine price board. with Judge
Mack =. gose az chairman. RAY
mond r. Frazier and Raymond T.
Tarr aa associate memberH. and as
sisted by Mcssrr Evans and Dan
tells. Mr. George r. Dalton. OF the
Federal Trade commission. United
states District Attorney Clay Allen.
and Mr. Scott G. Henderson. former
assistant attorney general OF the
state. have been Rt work nearly two
weeks holding hearings and invcsti
cations on tho value % this tentative
clsssification. and the proper mine
prices 60 be charged for the differ.
ent grades OF coal In each group.
Wide Range Here
"A cost investigation IL n comnli
Gated matter and totally devoid Of all
elements OF she spectacular There
are few states in the union In which
there IL so wide a variation in the
costs Of mining aA In Washington. a
variation due TO the geological for.
nation Of the coal beds TO secure
fair recommendation. which I can
submit 20 tho national fuel admins
traitor. confident that II IL M near
right ms I can get ~. In not the work
OF day or two.
II hope 60 haye Mt least n partial
recommendation from tho board
within n week. and n recommenda.
ton 20 cover the entire matter soon
after. Untn then the present prices
must stand as the maximum that
can bc charged
The Fuel administration OF Wash
ington has no intention OF avoiding
criticism. But complaints and aug.
Restions should 10 specific. backed
by as much az II rs possible TO oh
tain. Generallties are useless to US.
and will receive no consideration.
Neither fuel dealers nor fuel pro.
ducers can be brought TO book on
any general complaints.
THE work of the Fuel admlnIstrs.
ton IL "a war obligation, Imposed
upon citizens who are surrender1ng
their personal convenience and bust.
ness I'm far seeing effort. primarily
to stave off n fuel famine. and sec
ondarily to prevent any individual
or group In the fuel industry from
making personal profit from war
conditions. Each act Of the admins
tratlon In aimed at that broad but
intricate task
"Progreas may bo slow, but event.
ually ! am confident that our citi.
zens will realize the benefits they
have received. whether Immediately
reflected In tho price they pay for
tho coal In their cellars. or moro re-
motely In the continuance Of tho
blessings and comforts OF transpor.
tation and uninterrupted operation
Of every industry which will serve
TO diminish hardship at home and
to assist In pushing the war 20 n sue.
cessful conclusion.
IAN are vitality dependent on an
adeouat~ supplv Of coal"