Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-17
Higher Coal: Higher Living.
Chicago Tribune).

Coal miners are asking for an increase of
so per cent in wages and a 30-hour week. If
they win there will be a speedy and patent
demonstration that the Increased cost of living
is not blamable entirely upon "rascally prof.
teers," but upon fundamental charges.
Broadly speaking there is little prohteering
In the coal trade. The cost of coal. to sener-
alize. Is the cost of labor. The coal itself is a
natural product-costs nothing If labor costs
more coal costs more. If coal IS high, rent
is high.
The price of coal is not regulated by IL 4
owners of the most prosperous mines, but by
those of the least prosperous. Some mines
have an advantage in that they are well sit
uated, have access to favorable geological for
nations, are fortunate in having the most high
" skilled engineers are represented by trained
and diligent sales forces and thus produce
very large profits. Because of their advan-
tages they are able to operate during seasons
when the demand is very low.
There is another class Of mines, less ad-
vantag eously situated, which makes less money
And there is a third class confined to poor
veins of coal and at a disadvantage in execu-
tive ability. The mine owner in this third class
must operate with the most scrupulous econ
omy and will sell his product at the very small
est price in order to keep his shafts working.
The poverty Of his veins and his mechanical
requirements make it necessary for him to
operate on the narrowest margin
Coal production in the winter months never
has been in excess Of the normal demand. In
the last few years there has been coal deficit
of thousands of tons. In the winter months
when the demand is great the least successful
mine owner can operate with a small profit
because the law of supply and demand dictates
a price sufficient to enable him to pay his
labor.
But when demand fails and the prosperous
mines can produce the supply more cheaply
than the unprosperous, the latter must sus-
pend until again the demand forces the price
RI int Eha he Tins
small owner at the mercy Of the enormously
fuctuating supply and demand. becomes the
controlling factor OF prices, and his prices are
governed by what labor costs him.
If miners work only 80 hours q week It
means that production will fall perilously low.
II wages are increased so per cent, this in
crease, plus insufficient supply will send the
consumer cost inordinately high. 30-hour
week will mean an increased demand for min
ers to swell production. Workers will desert
other trades to participate in the mining boom
Production may increase, but the cost will ad
vance according as the number OF miners at
high wages.
If the price of coal, dictated, as we have
seen. by the cost of production. goes to famine
heights, the change will instantly be reflected
in living costs. Coal for apartment buildings
will be increased to Offset the advance In
this respect alone the effect upon all indi-
viduals is most direct.
Because coal is a basic need none can
escape the effect of its increased cost. The
farmer will be affected in heating his house
and in the price of farm implements because
implements cannot be made without fire We
must have bread; coal must furnish the heat
for breadstuffs. We must have clothing, Shoes
food products. building materials. and furni-
ture; coal must furnish the energy for the
factories which produce them. Coal must
move our trains, without which distribution
will be crippled Coal must move our street
cars. Coal is fundamental. If it goes up we
cannot blame "profteers." There is no pro-
cess of manufacture, raw products. no by
products. The cost is the cost Of handling.