The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-19
Some Danger Also of the
Miners Doing Like
wise Nov. 1.
BELL GETS STATISTICS
Car Distribution Figures
Regions Railroads
Now Arranged.

Apprehension is felt here because
Of the impending steel strike and
while prices have not been greatly af-
fected in the Fairmont coal region
prolongation of tn estrike would not
urally cause soft spot in the mar
ket. Operators here generally feel
that cheap coal may be of short dura-
ton II II comes at all, but that even
tually the price is bound. to soar be-
cause Of the general demand in this
country and abroad.
One Of the conditions that may cause
a runaway market is the danger of a
strike of miners November /, which
is not at all improbable should their
demands not ba met. This matter will
be decided at the conference between
the operators and miners at the joint
meeting to be held in Buffalo, ". T.,
on September 25. At that time 1t is
expected that the miners officials
may be firm in their sweeping de-
mands of six hour day, five day
a week and so per cent raise an
wages. Operators cannot understand
the attitude of the miners who ask fol
this big increase and in the same
resolution want reduction in the
cost Of living which on the surface
are Numerically opposite to econom-
IL conditions One OF the other con-
dItions is that the miners want con-
gress to nationalize the coal mines
Of the country.
While the outcome of the Buffalo
Joint conference is problematical new
ertheless the unusual demands framed
by the policy committee at its meet
ing in indianapolis some. time ago
have been endorsed in toto by the
convention Of the United Mine Work
ers, which is now in session in Cleye-
land.
operators in the West Virginia
fields will be obliged no doubt to pay
the same scale as that determined up
on at the meeting Of the Central com
uetitiye neutrality-suspicious., Ohio,
Indiana AID Illinois and according to
Acting President Lewis this will. be
carried to the adjacent states also, all
outlying districts" being the exact
phraseology. The miners Of West VIZ
ginia at their convention naturally
will follow the pace set by the COM
petitiye states. operators in the
West virginia fields believe that II
they are to be obligated by the &C
tion of the conference participated IN
nv the central competitive states that
tbev should have representation at
the conference as we'll as the other
states or rot be brought under the
same terms Of agreement as decides
upon the general scale committee
Mr.. Bell Gets Data.
Additional data in regard to car
supply will be received by the North
ern west virginia Coal Operators AS
ISOLATION according to G, 7. Bell, exec,
utlye vice, president, who returned
yesterday from. business trip TO BAL
timore and washington, D. Q. on
Monday Mr.. Bell conferred with H.
p voorhees,. general superintendent OF
the baltimore. and Ohio railroad in
Baltimore. -.
Arrangements were made to secure
a statement every ten days which Will
show the distribution Of cars at the
various mines along the Coal and
Coke railroad, the Morgantown and
Kingwood railroad and the Western
Maryland railroad The statement 4, Is
issued three times a month and VIII
he communicated to the'association by
circular letters
THESE roads are in addition to the
Monongah division Of. the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, the Monongahela
Railway and the Morgantown and
wheeling railroad. The exact inror-
nation mat will be secured from the
railroads will be the number of cars
ordered by the mines, the number Of
cars furnished, the number of cars
short and the number of cars over, to-
gether with the percentage of the dis
tribution This will impose duty
upon the car distributor of placing the
cars and he will be checked up SO that
il member sees that another mines
percentage is greater he has a right
eous kick coming.
Legislation Proposed
Considerable legislation is proposed
for the coal industry according to Mr.,
Bell, who attended the meeting of the
coal association secretaries at hhe
rooms OF the National Coal Association
IN washington D. O., on Tuesday
There the secretaries met in confer
ence with officials Of United States
railroad administration. The impress
sion is general in Washington that
the railroads will go back to private
ownership on January 1, and the pro-
posed bills are tolbe tackled on to the
bill turning back the property to pri-
yate companies. There was genera
disposition OF the railroad officials q
agree and cooperate AS result Of
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