davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Report Of Talk
With MIR. Minis

The session with Mr. Minis began this
way:
Mr.. Nims-Wcll, what is it that you
want?
Mr.. Could've want to accomplish
several things. First, we want to get
specific and prompt relief for certain of
the plants represented by US that are
seriously short of coal and that arc
threatened with shutdown. Second,
VIC would like to get general relief for
the whole situation. My statement
covers particularly the general situa
tion as we see it, and have hoped that
up each point and asking such ques-
furnish documentary evidence in sup
port of my allegations Of fact and sub
sanitation of the basis Of my opinions
Mr.. Nims-We are not interested in
gene ralizations facts and figures
we want. Have you put your facts and
figures into this statement? AS a gen
eral proposition, we don't put much
faith in statements of consumers
coal supply. We get hundreds of such
appeals every day and delegations Of
consumers by the score.
(At this point Mr. snead entered the
~oom.)
Mr.. Nims-Mr Snead, all need to do
is to wave my hand and you appear.
want to introduce you to Mr.. Williams
and to Mr.. Gould. Mr.. Gould is presi-
dent of the Fuel Engineering Company.
of New York. and represents large
number Of plants that are in need Of
coal. Please come around here and
look over this table with me. Mr..
Gould has handed me a statement
{ showing the formal statement to Mr.
Snead) which you may read, but which
| propose to keep.
Mr.. Snead-The chief criticism
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31

Garfield's executive secretary is George
K. Nasmyth. a Pittsburgh mining engi-
necr. Another member Of his advisory
board is Rembrandt Peale, a Pennsyl-
vania coal operator and a member OF
the coal selling firm Of Peale, Peacock
4 Kerr, Grand Central Terminal Build
ngi, New York City. Other members
arc Mr.. Chase, Of the Berwind- White
Coal Mining Company; j. J. Townes.
wholesale coal dealer and vicc-prcsi
dent of Archibald, Mcneil d. Sans
Company, New York City. The sole con-
sumcr is p. b. Noycs, OF the Oneida
Community Mr.. Gar.ield's legal ad-
wiser is II. D. Minis. J. d. A. Morrow.
formerly secretary and spokesman of
the National Coal Association, has lust
been added to the list. 1t will be OBJ
served that there is no railway or traf-
fic man on it.
Consider now the matter of price en-
forcement. Prior to August %, the day
the President fixed tho Eastern bitumi-
nous price at So, with Is cents added
for commission, the lowest actual
prices the writer has been able to find
ran as follows at different times and
mines for short tons: $437, S4.33. S325.
$":79. 1884. Notice how much these
minimum prices are in excess OF the
price that was supposed to satisfy the
operators.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
White House Shovels Tagged

WASHINGTON, Jan 3O.-Coal shovels
at the White House and the Capitol
were tagged by school children to-day
in the campaign to "save that shovel
full Of coal day for Uncle SAM" which
the fuel administration is conducting
to remind the countrys twenty million
householders of the necessity to con-
serve coal
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Those Who Pay the Price
Get Little Consideration
in Washington
Administrator Called
A Complete Failure
Producers Made Huge Profits
Despite Federal Price
Fixing
BY Theodore M. knappen

4 new angle Of view of the coal con-
While the railroads have complained
that the operators did not produce
enough coal and the operators have
complained that the railways didn't
haul the coal away as fast as they dug
it, the consumers, ignoring these con-
tentions almost altogether, endeavor to
direct attention to:
(a) The abnormally poor quality
Of tho 1917 coal.
tb) Its ipequitable distribution.
(c} The profits that have been
made in the coal business.
I'D The governments failure to
enforce it's price fixing.
(c) To what they term the com.
plete and utter failure of DR.. Gar
field as Fuel Administrator.
1t has taken the consumers some
time to voice their views and their
feelings In fact, the railways and the
coal producers had to pave the way for
of emphatic expression.
Along in December the railways and
the coal producers fell out. The alter
cation started when J. d. A. Morrow,
secretary Of the National Coal Associa-
ton, which had been formed by the pro-
ducers to cooperate with the fuel ad-
mnistrstion about tho Same time the
latter was established, arose and made
some remarks about the railways. The
gist Of MIR. Morrow's utterances was
that the blame for restricted produc-
ton of &C al rested entirely with the
railways. When the editor of "The
Railway Age Gazette" read Mr.. Nor
rows remarks he made some very def
mite editorial remarks, which created a
bad impression in producing cir
ri
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
The Weather Report

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3o.-The Gulf disturbances
OF Tuesday night has nearly disappeared ,yi,ho,f
moving northward but it has Caused general rain,
III INC Lasern Gulf and Southern Atlantic Sat.-
hcaVA SHOWS In Northern Virginia. Distrc. Of Co.
'umpia and Maryland. and SNOW is also colin,
'"-hlSnt as Tar north New York City. Tho,
N' no oher precipitation except some igb.l local
SHOWS IN front Of the Northwestern cold was,
"''ch tonight extends IN Northwestern TEXAS and
'hc lover Missouri Valley. and some local snow.
a''a rams over the northern districts ves. of the
"o,Ny Mountains. due to another moderate dig
turbance over Southwestern Utah. Eas, ~ a..
Mississippi River the temperature did no. change
materially, except in the Carolinas and Gern5
where it is considerably colder.
=. Ine Ice IN the Ohio River at Cincinnati broho
a, ~ a. m Wednesday, on a stage ri % tct
ala M 'le river rose TO 3S feet BY noon Indicat,ons
no" n point 10 general break up uf Ice In ths
ls -,' Wito - "1,,in the nn1t two three days
me no 10" rom the Southern tributaries from .shien
mos, o. the water IS coming viii bo checked sons
wat va. uhursday by reason OF low temperature
warnings wore issued Wednesday for N.,,. 1,
INC ri'erS OF the Caroilnas and Alabama "
..ian, I.ele WI be rain Thursday IN ths Southern
not"arti into New Ealgand and tbs lover ias ~ w
glon el followed by generally fair vca,hrr Friday
r rtfsFs h sass Of the the Mississippi River tho eaer
IL VIII be colder Thursday In the southern unuc-
axe aid western lower lake resion the ohio w
III 'n tnp no. upper ONO Valley, the lower lake region
toreca5t' for Special Locaities-Nrv I-s.,
Iascrn rennsylvania. Eastern New York Sou;hsr,
,Ncw fhgta.d SNOW Thursday; Friday colder And
-r, Northern New England. increasing cnudilr,,
i4,ursaay: Wi1a!y: local SHOWS Mt nixht or Friday
or and generally fair 'i-a' CUT
T., Western Pennsyvaio. snow Tlurs.lsv colde,
l" southern portion. Friday fair and colder
Local omclal Record.-T7ie following Official re,,or
from the Weather Bureau shows t1nera,u-es during
the last twenty four hours. IN comparison With Tn,
coTrespon ting date Of last year
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
No Railway Man
On Carheld's s Staff

DR.. Garfield put in charge of his bu-
rcau Of supplies l.. A. Snead. formerly
sales agent at Washington for the
White Oak Coal Company. Mr.. Snead
was charged with the distribution Of
coal-getting it to the consumer Or.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
The Failure i'm Coal Dfstrtb11tion-G
Big Fuel Consumers Complain
Coal Operators Ran DR.. Garfield


authority Of which enormous war prof
its arc being taken.
4 That the fuel administration has
never made any serious effort to en-
force it's prices.
s. Tha: DR.. Garfield has been dom
mated By tho producers and viewed
the coal problem from the standpoint
CT economy and curtailment Of con-
sumption instead Of giving adequate
attention to production.
o.. That the fuel administration has
paid no attention to quality standards
and has thereby permitted to be
iolsted on thc country coal that has
tecn far below normal standards in
heat producing capacity. thus wasting
transportation and reducing the coun-
try's industrial efficiency.
Z. That the fuel administration has
had no plan Of distribution.
8; That the attitude Of the Federal
fuel administration toward industrial
consumers has been one OF indifference
and Cynicism
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31


tor taking any steps to enforce the
Presidents order as to prices?"
Mr. Snead: "No."
Mr.. Gould: elias the Fuel Adminis
traitor issued any rules governing the
allotment and distribution Of coal
Or are any such rules in contempla
tion?''
Mr. Snead "No."
Mr.. Gould: "Then see serious time 3
ahead for industrial plants generally.
don't believe the owners Of such
plants will submit tamely. Something
will happen, and some one will get
hurt"
Mr.. snead "Thc only thing I can
suggest is that you see w. G. Townes,
Of Archibald Mcneil e. Sons Com
pany, whose name have written on
that paper. He may be able to do
something for YOU
Mr.. Gould: II appreciate that much
consideration, and will talk to Mr..
Townes. But does it not strike YOU
as humiliating that the United State.
government should confess it has not
the power or the willingness to enforce
its own laws, that the government can
not help manufacturing plants in their
efforts to keep going, to produce ma
terial that is so greatly needed, to give
employment to our people, in this time
Of all times. a time Of great national
emergency, but tell the manufacturing
plants Of the country tina, they may az
peal for help to some coal company in
New York City?"
Mr.. Snead: "f don't think So"
Mr.. Gould: "You may not, but I do.
AS an American citizen. I am humili-
ated to hear sucn confession. Tell
me, what has Mr.. Towncs to do with the
matter"
Mr. Snead: "NIr. Townes is a volun-
teer worker with the department. Al!
I can say is that he may be able 20
help you il you will see him"
such was the position of the fuel ad-
mlnistration with coal consumers in
the first days Of October, when the
country was rushing straight toward
great catastrophe.
The consumers have a plan In the
first place, they would have the dircc-
tion Of the fuel administration taken
away from DR.. Garfield and turned over
to competent body-say, a commits
sion Of three, made up Of one big bust
ness man of national prominence and
acknowledge ability, one coal producer
and one railway manor they would
give it to the Federal Trade Commits
sion, which suggestion Congress made
to the President in the text of the
Lever bill.
The Trade Commission was we'll in
formed as to coal matters, and expect
ed to be entrusted with the job, as
Congress evidently wished. 1t is un-
dcrstood to have had a programme
ready-the same programme ire con-
sumers advocate-which in general is
that a survey should be made of the
coal industry to ascertain the outlines
OF the actual distribution in 1916, and
with this information in hand, follow
as closely as possible with an appor-
tionment of coal among sections and
individuals according to their 1916 re-
ceipts.
Producers would be charged with the
responsibility of taking care Of needs
as they did in 1916. Every consumer
would then have particular source Of
supply, and responsibility would be
deknite. All cXcess production over
1916, and all coal required then, but
not now, would eturncd into free
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Lack of Cars
Caused Hold-up

Mr.. Gould cited out Of many case.
the case Of particular company-the
Yorkvillc Hygcia Ice Company, of New
York City-that could not get sufficient
coal. though it had contract.
Mr.. Snead-The Yorkvilc company
could get all the coal it wanted if it
would pay Sd ton for it,"
Mr.. Gould-Thc Yorkvillc company's
contract with Piper e. Co. specifies
+. o. b. mines. Piper & Co. would be
very glad to be able to deliver.
Mr.. Snead-They could get all the
coal they wan. If they would pay
enough for it. Piper has plent ow free
coal.
Mr.. Gould then explained that Piper
Go. could deliver the coal if they
could get cars. that the matter had
been taken up with the Interstate Com
merce Commission, with .ic Priority
Board and with Daniel Willard, and
that they all admitted that Piper & Co.
were getting only a Al per cent allot-
ment Of cars. Mr.. Krtey. Of the
Priority Board, had stated that if DR..
Garfield would request them to furnish
cars to Piper for this particular plant
the matter would be attended to, but
Mr.. Snead refused to take any steps in
The matter
Mr.. Gould pointed out that cars
might be held back from the wagon
mines. which really weren't mines at
al. and turned over to the good mines
of Piper e. Co., thus resulting in haul
ing coal instead Of dirt, but Mr.. Snead
did not take much interest in the sug-
gestion.
In the dialogue that followed Mr..
Snead admitted that the fuel admins
tration could not give specific relief to
any plant. lie showed his poor opin-
ion of consumers by many statements
such as the following:
81 would not believe the statement
of any consumer"
II would not believe any ones state
ment as to his need for COAL" etc
Tic added that he would not believe
consumers statements as to amount Of
coal on hand, amount en- route. length
Of time their supply Of coal would last.
proportion OF their output going to fiji
government orders or as to their coal
contracts. Closely questioned, he re-
iterated his statements.
Mr.. Gould: "Will you tell me how
under the heavens the consumers oe
properly present their case to youo
How are they going to get relief, II
YOU will not believe anything they say?
What are you here for, anyway?"
Mr.. Snead: 81 don't hear any Of these
concerns talking about curtaling their
production. 1t is always hut-down-
never any curtailing."
Mr.. Gould: "That is a strange cx-
preston from government agent when
the government bureaus, Mr.. Hoover,
everybody. is appealing to every one to
speed up production in every line. Even
though the concern is not making war
materials, its production is needed to
replace materials not now being fur
nshcd by some Of Tie factories that
have been given over to war work"
Mr.. Snead: "They could all curtail.
and then there would be sufficient coal"
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31

would make Of the statement is that it
Is about fifteen pages too long.
Mr.. Sncad-Wcll what is the feeling
OF the coal trade toward you?
Mr.. Gculd-Oh. the coal trade loves
u.s.
Mr. Nims-I cannot sec what that has
to do with the matter. 1t is not peril
-nent to the question. (Turning to Mr..
Williams.) ! am not sure but that it
would be good thing to have some one
OF AIR: Gould's way of thinking around
this place.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Coal Association
Accused Of Avarice

Having failed through avarlce, in
capacity and want of patriotism to
meet the requirements Of the situa-
ton said The Railway Age Gazette"
the coal producers are engaged in the
lamlliar practice Of crying Stop Theft
The National Coal Association. an or
eanization formed apparently to in
crease the output of misnformation re-
:arding the fuel situation rather than
INC output of COAL is issuing frequent
statements intended to put the respon-
sibillty for the failure to secure ade-
quatc production of coal upon the rail-
roads,
Tho Railway Age Gazette" then
pointed out that, on the testimony of
their own reports to the Geological
Survey. tho mines were 2,209 900 tons
short of full monthly production at
that time, for reasons within their own
control. Finally, in the same editorial.
The Railway Age Gazette" hands the
coal producers this hot one:
There is a tradition that the streets
of ancient Jerusalem were kept clean
by every man sweeping in front of his
own door. Consideration of the ad-
rantages of this practice is commended
TO the producers of coal. The Railway
Ago Gazette does not believe in gov
ernmcnt operation of industries. IF.
however, there is any industry in Amer
ica which, since this country entered
tho war. has justified serious consid-
Grafton of government seizure and op-
Grafton of it, that industry is the coal
industry. If the coal producers persist
n following the course that they have
thus far been following, they will be
the first of the large industries to pro-
woke the natural public resentment
which will land them in the hands of
the government.
Big Consumers Begin
To Lose Patience
Mr.. Morrow came back and the "Rail-
way Age" responded. The lid was
thereby tilted and the big industrial
consumers of coal, who had nursed a
feeling that the mines as we'll as the
iuel administration were not over-con-
s!deratc of their interests, got some
thing of a chance to vocalize their
grievances. They had been inarticulate
and were without organization or any
regular medium of expression, but
when the railways, who are great con-
sulners as we'll as great carriers of
coal. became so exasperated at the pro-
oucers as TO hint at public ownership
or the coal mines, the public service
corporations and the countless thou
sands OF industries that use coal began
10 reflect that after all they were not
dumb and might, on occasion, use their
voices.
They began to practice little, but
we're timid and vocally weak until DR..
Garfield shocked them with the four
tecn-day shutdown order. That gal
vanlzcd them into expression. The
final ,lCv- ,l1
struggles of months past to keep their
plants running Their accommodating
Indignation at the coal producers and
.mpatiencc with Dr. Garfield's handling
Ct the problem of fuel boiled up and
ran over. 1t is very difficult to de-
scribe the state of mind of the great
coal consumers.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Profits Increase
From 10 Cents to 81

Let US consider coal profits. From
figures submitted by the consumers, it
appears that the big mines are pro-
ducng bituminous coal at cost Of
around $1l0 ton or less. Small
mines we're doing that in April. The
actual cost statement for one small
mine since the increased wage scale
went into effect shows a total cost oc
production of 1882 per long ton, or
$l.64 per short ton.
Assuming that this mine does not
absorb ali or any part of the fifteen
cent commission, it is making eighty
one cents q ton at the government
price. Ten cents was once considered
q good profit and did often represent
about 10 per cent on the turnover.
Francis S. Peabody has himself ad
mittcd that the present government
price is a good price.
An article in "Thc Coal Age" New
York, January 10. says of coal mine
profits in Pennsylvania:
"The year has been one Of great
prosperity for both the operator and
the miner. Prices for coal were eX-
ceedingly high until near the close
of the year, when the prices were
fixed by the Federal government,
lessening to a great degree the vast
profits that were being garnercd by
the operators. Even under the gov
ernment prices, however, the we'll
conducted mine is profitable, and no
fear need be entertained as to the
results Of the coming year. The
wages of the miners have risen to
almost unreasonable heights and
reports Of unheard-of earnings arc
received from all sections Of the
regions.
On October 3, 1917. William S. Gould,
president Of the Fuel Engineering Com
pany, 1O6 East Nineteenth Street, New
York City, accompanied by his counsel,
Nathan B. Williams. of Washington.
had such q remarkable interview with
Messrs. Minis and Sncad, Of the Govern
ment Fuel Administration, that he i'm
mediately reduced the conversation to
writing and made affidavit to the same.
The Fuel Engineering Company repre-
sents some three hundred large indus
trial concerns that use about 100000
tons Of coal year.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Quality Went Lower,
But Prices Did Not

Compare tho foregoing prices with
some quotations after the government
price Of 81 at the mine was fixed:
August %, 1857; August 81. s475; Sep
tember 10, $3.4S; September %, S3.57
Notice how prices did rot 80 down
On October "a the new price of $3.50
40 cents added for increased labor
costs s-went into effect On October 81
you might have bought bituminous coal
l. you were lucky, at $3.50; on Novem-
Der Z, at 50; on November 9, at $3.50;
November 10, S3.72: November 20, s4:
MoVember n, S4.35 or $a.25; November
27, S4.1O.
Remember that the government price
at the mine was $3.50, including Is
cents commission. Consumers also
assert that this coal averaged so low
IN quality that in steam producing re-
suits they were in effect paying as
much as double the nominal price.
II ordinary coal could not be obtained
at the above erratic prices the con-
sumer sometimes found relief in carncl
and smlthlng Goals, on which no price
limit vas established. These Goals run
from "a to SO per cent ash, and were
bringing from rs cents to $3.50 more
than the ordinary coal of better quail
ity.
On August % the United States Army
Transport Service could get no coal
at government prices. though it was
in the market for 1000 tons. The pro-
duccrs had no coal for the government
at government price.
On September q the same service
is reported to have succeeded in buy
ing bunker coal from Archibald Nc
Ncill & Sons Company, at $3.05 gross
ton. f. o. b. NINE. This is equivalent
to S3.25 a short ton or 65 cents more
than the government prices.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Wagon Mines
Greatly Stimulated

Wagon mines" were permitted to
add charge for carriage. A wagon
mine is one that has to haul its coal
by wagon or automobile truck to the
railway. The real wagon mines clappcd
on about 81 ton for carriage, and
there was a wonderful tendency for
mines to become wagon mines. The
true wagon mine is surface, or out
crop affair, for the most part, and its
product is naturally inferior. The high
price stimulated these mines to an un-
heard of volume Of production of poor
coal, which resulted obviously in
waste of transportation and at the
same time kept the real commercial
mines from getting an adequate sup
ply OF cars. Moreover, these wagon
mines. being crude and primitive af-
fairs, have no facilities for rapid load
ing, thus detaining cars a long time.
A concrete instance is cited Of one
high grade mine being held down to
Al per cent of its car requirements
while neighborng low grade wagon
mines had all they could use.
In this connection it is important to
note that the government price is for
any kind Of coal. No standards of
quality were created. The highest
grades and the poorest stuff were al
io"eu 1he same price. his led to
poor quality being produced and
shipped by the good mines as we'll as
the poor ones.
further complication along the
same line resulted from the creation
of the Tidewater Coal Exchange or
pool, to which all coal looked alike.
Mr.. Garfield did not create this pool,
but he allowed it to continue to op-
crate. Tho purpose of the pool was
good-to simplify the handling of coal,
which was complicated by a multitude
of grades and classifications. Accord
ing to the consumers, it worked out
badly because it stimulated the pro-
duction Of bad coal. with it's double
waste Of transportation and indus
trial inefficiencx.
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31

HIghest temperature yester1ay o; deore,e "a, r-,-
D. m lo"est. II at q. m average -: aver
age ivr same date last year. ~ average for Same
date last thirty three years so W sa-"o
New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Humidity
,. III
Baron ster READINGS

- ~ '-7' o0o' : r. NJ - %. 10
lo'aI omc'a Forecast-Snow o-das: colder and
PROBABLY faj- TO morrow; moderate north TO north
east windA,.