Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-28
Operator Shows
Ho,O Miners Keep
Output Curtailed

,oal industry. He sketched plan
. fhl CHI he believes would bring cheaper
toa1, give the miners q larger annual
ncome. and do much towards stabiliz.
ny the industry
First. he would have the public geo
he basic facts. He would like com
Mission similar to thar appointed b.
resident Roosevelt In the adjustment
Z e the anthracite strike of 1909, Such
- tribunal would bring out all the facts
rom both miners and operators. The
miners to date have opposed such a
plan, but he say that tine coal oper-
ators are entirely willing to rest their
ease with such q tribunal and abiu~
iheerfully by the. findings and award
II such commission Us to wage pay
nents to miners and proper prices to
ahe public" ;1ssvs ~ -
~ % For Summer Storage.
Then he would havss the public buy
coal--50. ooe.ooo toms in sthe central
competitive field of Pennsylvania, Ohio,
indiana and Illipois-between March
md August. That would make $780,.
300 tons for Illinois summer storage.
This. he says. would substantially
solve the annual recurring problem OF
car and motive power shortage and Of
threatened or actual coal famine, and
20 OF specific benefit to all concerned
along the following lines: 5
]. Provide more regular employment
for mine labor.
2. Reduce the cost OF producing the
total coal requirements of the country
with d corresponding reduction in cost
TO the consumer
8. Avert periods Of coal famine and
Interference with industrial production.
1. Remove O material portion Of the
heavy transportation tax made on the
railroads during the fall and winter
season when operating costs are at the
highest point and when the movement
Of cotton, grain, and other agricultural
products must be provided for.
Effect Of Present System.
He explains the effect OF the present
system as follows:
1T will be readily understood tha>
during periods Of shortened running
time occasioned by the retirement Of
coal purchasers from the market, the
cost OF coal production must advance
heavily. and that only the most eco
nomical mines can under such condi-
IlOuS po COAllAoSu az WI Ne = AS $500
mediate result Is the closing down of
a large number Of smaller mines and
those producing the least acceptable
coal. This means prolonged tdleness
for 4 substantial number OF men at
such mines who dnd occupation only
when. Immediate necessity for fuel
again confronts the buyer, and there
is universal and simultaneous demand
for coal.
AT such times. every class and type
Of mine-no matter how Indifferent the
character or preparation OF tho coal
produced-has for = comparatively
orief period 9 market for its product,
and unless there be labor strikes or
car shortage all coal users are sup
piled. Under such policy Of broken
running time. however, the average
J. cost OF coat il always hiGheAr and many
buyers are denied opportunity to Sc
zect the coal they may most desire and
! shat u most satisfactory and -economi-
] rai tor their hse, II bo1Slt and stored
early, however, there 10 no danger OF
coal famine. and no, such denial OF
choice as to quality and preparation
! Of coal"
Tho Chief Defect. Z
He gives the chist defect and It's ef-
Feet upon the public as follows:
1T Is the enforced idleness At the
large number Of these smaller mines
whose coal is Of more or less indiffer-
! emit quality that develops the present
demand Of the miners for a larger
wage payment The following record
taken from the Illinois coal report for
I - - INC this anfirply
clear. The period covered by the an
nual report ending June 80, 1919. was
/. one OF the most unsatisfactory years
N the coal industry, the production Of
1915 being below that Of both 1914 ana
1918. with consequent reduction III
he number Of Shipping mines from sso
% $50.
From the total Of the 2so shipping
mines operating in IBIS, employing 72,-
Z III men and producing 56.l72,sss tons
81 coal. l42 mines, working an average
Of 200 days Cor 66 2-3 per cent OF full
Gime), employed 72H per cent OF all
! the mine workers ia the state and pro-
duced sl.2 per cent Of the total coal.
This left 1913 shipping mines. employ
ing 2711 per cent of5jthe mine labor
and working very broken and short
/ time, to produce 1873 per cent OF the
3oal loaded on to the railroad cars.
: "The miners predicate their demand
! FOR higher pay on the small wage re-
turn secured at this largo number OF
small mines .sthat represent only a
small percentage Of the total produce
I ing capacity Of the state.
Recent Years Records. -
~,,h NJ znnnaPQy I'm .
proyement of business the :potentAs
earning capacity OF the miners was II.
i creased proportionately. For the coal
year ending June 80. 1915, from a total
Of 2sA shipping mines-employing ~.
sss men, producing $685. s6 tons
ISL of these mines working az days
(something over 70 per centtSof fun
time). employed rs per. cent Of all the
miners In the state,l and produced 30
per cent Of the total production. TINS
! leaves lss shipping mines that, work
ing very broken time, employ ~ per
! cent OF the miners and produce only
Is par cent Of the total coal Of tho
] state. ~.
an 1917 there we're ss4 Shipping
mines. employing 1906 men and pro-
Gducing 71171,2S3 tons. Two hundred
and four, Of. these mines. working an
average OF 235 days (7s per cent OF run
time). employed s7.7aper cent OF al the
miners in the state and produced sz.o
Z per cent Of all the coal. This leaves
] l20 chipping mines that, working very
I broken time, employ only, 1913 per cen.
. Of the miners and produce only -
per cent Of the total coal OF the STATS.