The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-06

agents Of the United States railroad
administration will be at work in the
Fairmont field checking up reports
that operators have been making as
to the number of cars loaded and the
number left over from the previous
day. One of the agents today said.
that is out Of so mines on the Mon
cngat division had more cars left over
from the previous day than they had
reported. On days when the car sup
ply was big and the distributor gives
the mines more cars than their rating
called for it is claimed that all OF
these cars were reported as loaded
when as matter OF fact several OF
them would not be loaded, but left
on the siding for the next days load
ing. This the operators have done &C
cording to the agent for the purpose
OF having an adequate supply of cars
when the shortage struck the diVis-
ion.
The result has been they claim that
a whole lot Of equipment has been
held up and it has worked a hardship
On their fellow operators, who could
have used the cars which in some in
stances the man with the surplus
could not get away with. According to
the agent there appears to have been
less cooperation between the opera
tors and the railroads Of this region
than any other and more numerous,
complaints have been filed from the
Fairmont region than the other fields
The result is that this region will
be policed for the next week or ten
days and the report of the investiga;
ton will be made to the railroad au
thorities in Washington. The agents
will make an effort to visit every
mine and they will work out OF Fair
mont Grafton, Morgantown, Browns
vile, Pa, Tunnelton, Gassaway, Elk
ms and Connellsyille, Pa.
From what can be gathered the
railroad administration will insist up
on operators furnishing correct infor-
nation in everything and especial!s
in regard to cars left over. AS the
reports are shown to the operators
who swear falsely place themselves
in position where they are apt to
lode their car supply by false re-
ports. This has been done in num-
Der of instances in other regions &C
cording to one of the agents.
Lake Situation.
Due to heavy togs in the vicinity
Of the 500 some Of the Lake Superior
traders lost from twelve to fifteen
hours, Not until the furnaces take the
ore more freely will there be any
great improvement in the ore move
ment. Grain trade is very dull on the
Great Lakes.
On Friday night the firemen and
linemen employed on tugs owned by
contractors at Duluth, Mich, settled
their strike. The men will be paid
$125 a month and additional pay Of
$40 a month from the beginning Of the
season until September L.
All the Cleveland coal dock EN-.
ployes reported for work on Thurs
day and the work of loading a big
steamer was begun.
Captain Wesley G. Richardson, the
Oldest manager of the lake vessels.
died at his home in Cleveland on
Thursday.
Screened to Slack.
Since the opening of the Panama
Canal Chile has become more access
sible to export trade and. American
coal has replaced English fuel dur
ing the war. Chile needs 2,500,000
metric tons Of coal according to gov
eminent reports. Nitrate plants and
railroads will consume 100000 tons
Coal shovelers at Providence, r. /.
are on strike to get a raise Of from
rs cents to 81 an hour.
France is arranging to have 10000
tons OF coal shipped from Germany.
1t Is the opinion of F. S. Washburn,
an American mining engineer, that It
viii! take long time before the
water can be pumped out Of the
French mines and before the fefltting
of shafts and machinery Is again
working properly. People Of Amer
lea are "a little too optomistic in re.
gard to our ideas when Europe will
return to work." says Mr., Wash
burn.
Believing that American coal OPP
orators are becoming preemlnent due
to the excellence OF the machinery
they possess, English operators are
installing electrical and compressed
air coal-cutting MAJ ninery.
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