Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-05

made a statement in which he said
among other things:
Had the Fuel Administrators
active control over maximum prices
on anthracite coal been continued
the cost examination above referred
to shows that it would have been
necessary, on the basis of the pres
ent wage scale, to raise these maxi
mum prices possibly as much as
90 cents per ton above those last
fixed by the Government, in order
to prevent financial embarrassment
and perhaps the closing of companies
producing a substantial PERCENTAGE
of the necessary anthracite output
Such a curtailment of production
would eventually result in the de-
mand exceeding the supply to such
an extent as to increase the prices
much higher than they would be if
that supply was continued
Believes Garfield Right
IT am convinced that DIR. Garfield's
judgment in this matter was correct
and that the action of the producers
in announcing a gradual increase of
ten cents a ton for five months, be-
ginning May 1st, is justified, con-
sidering all of the conditions con-
fronting the trade. We are all anX-
ious that the present wage scale in
the anthracite regions be maintain
ed, as this industry in one way or
another affords employment and sus-
tenance to almost one-tenth of our
industrial population in Pennsyl-
Vania. 1t is also q fact to be
thoroughly considered that only
about one-eighth of the anthra cite
coal mined in Pennsylvania is con-
sumed in this State, the balance
going outside of the limits of the
State. The Federal Fuel Administra-
tons experts showed that the cost
of mining and preparing anthracite
coal has increased SO per cent, while
the price at the mines has increased
only 30.5 per cent.
Several of the larger Independent
operators and some of the so-called
railroad interests We're willing to
defer the beginning of the increases
until July 1st, instead of May 1st
had l SO requested. | feared to in
sist upon this, however, as it would
have meant a arrangement in the
trade throughout the entire anthra-
cite-using section and would un-
doubtedly have worked hardships
upon our operators and their en-
ployes, necessitating the closing of
some mines and the throwing of
many people out of work by pre-
venting early buying of anthracite
and it's storage in cellars for next
winters use.
Production Fell on
There has been a marked falling
off in the production of coal during
February and March, many mines
being on short time and others
closed. 1t would be dangerous.
therefore, to delay the settlement of
the questions longer, or the usual
mining operations during the spring
and summer would be reduced and a
shortage in coal and consequently
higher prices would result next WIN
ter. My feeling is that everyone
who can do so, should lay in coal
now, get the benefit of the present
prices for themselves and stimulate
production to keep our miners en-
ployed and assure against a shortage
next winter.
There are other elements enter
ing into the cost of anthracite coal
at the homes of our people which
need some sort of regulation and con-
troll. There are great inequalities
in the railroad rates as planned by
the Federal Railroad Administra-
ton, and, of course, a considerable
part of the increase in the price of
ccal has been due to these increased
freight rates. Even a cursory per-
sual of the published rates for carry
ing domestic coal will show this.
For instance, the freight rate to
Reading is $1.90, although the haul
from the Schuylkill region is but
little over so miles, while the same