The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-26
UNITED MINE WORKERS SERVE NOTICE
m PRICE CUTTING COAL OPERATORS
VIII Not Stand for Any Reduction in Wages, I'll f. Pc
ters, Officers in Charge Of Fairmont OffAe
H. Declares in Public Statement
some APRIL COAL SOLD AS Low As $780,
Baltimore and Ohio Withdraws Another Set Of Fuel
Shipments Figures From Public Inspection Load
ings on Monongah Division shoTDrop

Selling Of cheap coal in the Fair
mont region has sent an apprehension
Into the camp of the United Mine
Workers that the next thing that will
happen will be cut in wages. Thous
ands OF tons of coal have been sold
at SITS and as low as $1.6C a ton re-
Gently and the United Mine Workers
are taking no chances.
The United Mine Workers are a1teF
the scaSos Of the offending operators
For some time railroad fuel has been
an enigma in the Fair1ncnt field. FL
fort has been made to suppress the
facts and figures so that the operators
can not get line on tonnage which
individual railroads secure daily.
The United Nine Workers say that
the temporary depression rs ffslng
taken advantage OF and fatty say
..that they will not stand for reduc
ton In wages"
II. p. Peters, who is in charge OF the
Fadrmont office OF the United Mine
Workers today gave out the following
statement:
zone of the most interesting
reports current today is to the ef-
feet that operators in the FaTmont
Field have been contracting tor,
and selling coal less than $l.75
per ton, which is ridiculously be-
low the normal cost Of producing
coal,iMsthe Fairmont field. as fixed
by the government which was
$3.50 per ton.
"Past and present experiences
fully demonstrate conclusiyely
that Fairmont coal cannot be min
ed and sold and present wages
man hained at these prices. There
must be some sinister motive hack
Of this movement to reduce the
selling price Of coal in the Fair
mont field. II the motive is to red
,lce the cost Of production by
reducing wages. then the officials
Of the U. NJ. C. OF A. wish 20 serve
notice on operators OF the Fair
mont feld here and now that we
will not stand for a reduction in
wages.
It is our candid opinionfrom a
close survey OF the general condi-
ton OF the coal trade, notwith-
standing there is temporary de-
preston. 1t should not be taken
advantage of and used as an ex-
cuse to cut prices and the opera
tors who do so will bring curse
upon their own hea6s.
Mr.. Hines. general director OF
railroads has advised the Inter-
national officials Of Mine Work
7 ers that there should be no reduc-
ton IN selling price, which would
affect wages Of the miner, and
also promised that there would be
no unfair advantages given one
group of operators over another.
Railroad coal would be purchased
In general markets at general mar
ket prices.
We are suspicious that there
are some sharp practices between
Mr.. Hines and individual opera
: tors in the F'airmont field and we
Wish to advise again that this Is
no time to even attempt to revise
these old and unfair competitive
eSOA0 tuAOho
n. 3. PETERS, Officer in Charge
U/M. w. Of A., Dist. II.
April Contracts.
Sixty one thousand tons Of Fairmon
coal has been contracted for by the
Anew York New Haven and Hartfort
Railroad company according to the
statement placed on the office door.
Of the company In New Haven, Conn
This tonnage covers the April bust
ness.
Bids were awarded as follows 70,
the April business.
4: McBeil & Sons Co., 5000 tons a
George E. Warren Co.. 10000 tons
4 $1.55.
Aniler Coal Co.. 5000 tons, ;1.75.
Har Mar Coal Co.. 5000 tons, SITS
Kntcksrbocker Fuel Co. 5000 tons
$5.74.
Knickerbocker Fuel Co.. 10000 tons
u Va, 6 Penna. soal Co., 10000
tons, $1.s5.