The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1919-09-08

In addition there are some 2.6sw
operators with about 1000 mines,
who begin producing and selling coal
whenever the price goes up little
and offers a profit TO them. Thus In
1917 coal production was reported to
the u. S. Geological Survey from
lD0.63s mines. Moreover, there are
hundreds of thousands Of acres Of
coal lands along railroads on which
new mmes can I've readily and quickly
opened by any one so disposed. Such
condition obviously does not lend
itself to restrictive combination
among producers. In addition the
operators Of each mining field are
subject to competition from the pro-
ducers o. other fields. 50 that bny-
crs have maSy different sources Of
supply available to them.
"Os the 5000 separate bituminons
coal producers ir the United States,
2.294, approximately IS per cent,
hold membership in the National
: Coal Association. They produce
about GO per cent Of the total output
of bituminous coal in the country.
No Price Combiastien.
Charges that the National Coal
Association Is a combination to main
tnjn prices are without foundation in
fact; they doubtless proceed simply
from ignorance Of its purposes and
activities.
.The National Coal Association
represents these operators and looks
after their interests in matters of
general concern, such as transporta-
ton and traffic questions, standard
ization Of cost accounting. co-opera-
tion with Governmental agencies and
similar activities. There is nothing
secret about its business. Its files
and records are open to the Commit
tee or any other duly authorized
agency Of the Government at any
time.
The National Coal Association
neither buys nor. sells coal; neither
does il have anything whatever TO do
with the prices which its members
ask or sell ~, nor with the territory
into which they ship their coal. nor
the quantity which they produce
Nr. Morrow stated that bituml-
nous coal prices have declined since
the arruistice, and in general are
lower than the prices fixed by the
United States Fuel Administration
lie pointed out to the Committee that
until February last, the price OF
titusninous coal was controlled -1y
the nsaximanl price fixed by the Fuel
Administration in the various pro-
curing districts
"Thesc Fuel Administration prizes
were INTENDED to prevent the charg-
ing Of undue prices for bitumiIicus
coal and 70 limit the profits. which
the mine operators might make" he
said. "At the same time they in
cludcd fair profits in order that the
production Of sufficient coal should
be stimulated during the war, but
they did not petmit excrbitart
lrofits. The Fuel Administration
prices. however. did not take quality
OF coal into cons nsidcration. That is.
The Fuel Administration did not give
higher pricc@ to the coal pretncers Of
any district merely because tic coal
was Of better quality tnan the coal
produced III some adjacent. mining
Field Poor Goals and good Goals. IL
their cost Of production were the
samc. uer treated alike. We under
stand. ineE-inE the Ere! Admiristr X
ton prircs!r Il n
Bsyers Fix Prizes
Mr.. Morrow submitted charts to
the Committee graphically showing
The prices which bitnminous coal sold
at the mines n diGereats districts
Of the United States from April to
August 1898. In connection with
these charts. Mr.. Morrow explained
that xheR.. the prize Esstxie1iqns ef