Denver labor bulletin., 1918-10-26

workers that moved toward the black
ened buildings above shaft and tun-
mel. At Stonesboro, Pa, where the
Mercer Iron and Coal Company mines
are the oldest in the district, $50 men
who had retired from the service Of
the company after accommodating sub
stantial savings, volunteered to take
up pick and shovel again. These older
workers were assigned to a new open
ing on the mine, which was not yet
connected with a railway spur, but
while waiting for the siding to be
completed they mined 1000 tons of
coal.
Frank ]. Hayes, president of the
United Mine Workers, made a tour
of the anthracite mining fields in July
for the purpose of appealing to mine
operators as well as mine workers TO
increase production, but he found that
there was no lack of appreciation of
the opportunity to serve the country
with pick and shovel as well as with
rife and bayonet.
Boosting Mining Records.
During the week of July 13, the
mines operated up to nearly Sc per
cent of their full time output. The
total loss of production from all
causes amounted to 13 per cent. In
Indiana, where the mine workers have
been doing their utmost to help win
the war, they have worked full hours
on all working days.
The eight mines of the Knox County
Coal Operators Association produced
1923 ,SS7 tons in July, an increase of
30,43S tons over the largest previous
record for a month. And this was
achieved, notwithstanding $50 hours
were lost on account Of car shortage.
In response TO a letter sent out by
F. W. Guthrie, president of the United
States Coal Corporation of Pittsburg,
asking that an effort be made to go
over the top for July with 100000
tons, the miners exceeded the amount
desired by 1851 tons. In the coal
fields of Central Pennsylvania the big
gest production for the current year
was recorded for the week which
ended August "a, when the output was
1,306,075 tons, or 1907 more than the
highest number of tons in any previous
week of 1918.
Worked Near 90 Per Cent.
Not only in increased energy and
in intensive labor have the mine work
ers been seeking to aid the war, but
they have cut down absences. In the
Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corpora
tons field the percentage of absen-
tees changed from 20.S in May to 9.3
in July. From Norton, Va, the United
States fuel administration received
the report that the week ending Au-
gust "a showed 202, ,035 net tons had
been produced, or l 100 net tons more
than any previous weeks record. This
large output was due to the fact that
the mines in the district worked near
ly 90 per cent full capacity. And the
loss caused by labor shortage, car
shortage, and mine disability was g.
1923 tons.
"The mine workers, recognizing
that this is no time for shirking or
stacking, have responded nobly to the
slogan of the president of the United
Mine Workers of America for a full
eight hours work each day and for
/ six days a week." said James B.
Neale, director of production, United
States fuel administration. The en-
I ployers for their part have responded
/ to the mine workers desire to work
as many hours as possible. They are
/ seeing to it that there is no loss of
/ production thru mine disability which
care and skill might have avoided. u
| Burden of Responsibility.
The new draft will further reduce
the number of mine workers, and every
'day will increase the consumption OF
fuel Thus the men who are toilinG
underground bear each day a heavier
burden of responsibility. They know
that failure on their part in this pc