The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-18
PENNSV OPERATORS
ARE OPTIMISTIC.
They Expect Material I'm.
provement in Condi-
lions Shortly.

has fallen off fifty per cent. as COM
pared with six months ago are going
to improve materially in the near fu-
tuEe, is the aopinion Of leading opera
tors and officials OF the Central Penn
sylvania Coal Producers Association.
The production during the week end
ing February / was 100000 tons and
It fell somewhat below that figure
during the week ending February 8.
Reserves stocks are used up and now
conditions are bound to improve.
Short Time on Mines.
Mines OF the Reading Coal and Iron
company are working on four-day
a week basis in Schuylktll county, Pa.
Bottom Is Reached.
Observers Of conditions in the Con-
nellsyille coke region believe that the
bottom has been reached IN the post
war curtailment Of production necessi-
tated by the removal OF government
prices, simultaneously with the clos
ing down for repairs of many Of the
country's blast furnaces which Con-
nellsville operators furnish with coke.
The curtailment during the three
weeks period Of transition averaged
10000 tons of coal weekly. There is
evidence that the average weekly pro-
duction for the next two or three
months will anchor around SIS 900 tons
OF coal, with the coke output from
zoe, 900 to 225,000 tons, the remaining
output geing shipped as raw coal prin-
cipally to by-product ovens. Opera
tors generally are limiting production
to contract requirements delivered at
Sc. Comparatively little tonnage is
on the open market. Operators are
asking SIS with few inquiries.
1oday's Cars.
There arc 2,4S0 cars in the region
today. They are classified as follows:
Coal, 2,416; coe, 10; surplus M. v. 3.
The placement at z O'Clock this morn
ing was l,15S.
Yesterdays Loading.
The total loading yesterday was
AS. The loading was as follows: East.
,4ls coal; 4 coke. Eastward there was
loaded 400 coal and 4 coke cars and
westward is coal and no coke cars.
working Conditions.
Today there are 159 mines idle.
Last Tuesday there were ITO a.iles
idle. The total number of unconsign-
ed cars on the Monongah division of
the B. rs o. are 677. The number of
unconsigned cars of yesterdays load
ing were 26 cars.
Railroad Fuel.
Nothing new has broken in railroad
! fuel recently. About the same amount
LOT railroad fuel as has been going out
LOT the region for several weeks. Yes
terday 222 leads were shipped out.
Stockholders Meeting.
The annual meeting this week in
open court, with Judge j. O. Van
Swearingen presiding, Of stockholders
OF the Thompson Connellsyilie Coke
company is attracting much interest
in coal and financial circles. The
meeting, which will be held Wednes.
day morning at ii o'clock, is the cul.
mination OF controversy within the
company which has held the interest
OF the coke industry for the last six
months. Upon the outcome Of the
stockholders meeting will depend
whether j. H. Hillman, Jr., of Pitts.
burgh, or John P. Bremen, q pioneer
operator Of the local field, will con.
troll the company during the ensuing
year. Litigation in the case hinged
around the purchase by Mr.. Hillman
OF block Of stock forming the con.
troll which had been held by the First.
Second National bank OF Pittsburgh
as collateral for indebtedness of j.
v. Thompson. q
United Mine Workers.
Two hundred and fifty men attend.
ed the mass meeting Of the United
Mine Workers in the opera house at
Grant Town on Sunday. Addresses
were made by Sam Ballantyne, inter-
national organizer, and John Custalac,
district organizer.
Joe Angelic, International organs
ger, returned last evening from Pitts.
burgh, where he had a conference
with John L. Lewis. vice president OF
the International body.
w. F. Ray, district board member,
is at Helen's Run today.
Nick Aiell, district board member,
is at Ida May today.
Ira Marks, district board member,
is at Darby today.
Joe Angelic, international organi.
ger, is at Norway today.
w a Pow dicfriok 1,oo.J .nno,..ta,
was at Helen's Run on Sunday.
B. A. Scott, international board
member. was at Monongah yesterday.
Ira Marks, district board member,
was at Darby yesterday. Bf
John Custalac, district organizer,
was Hildebrand yesterday.
II. e. Peters, district organizer, who
is in charge OF the Fairmont office Of
the United Mine Workers, has return
ed from Charleston.
The three hundred delegates who at
tended the special convention OF the
United Mine Workers have returned
from Charleston. One hundred OF
these are from the Fairmont region.
K United Mine Workers registered a
! protest against the passage Of the red
flag bill, which was passed, however,
by the Legislature. 1t is understood
that when the Governor was asked to
veto the bill he wanted to know why
he should do so IL number Of leglsla.
tors themselves, who held union cards,
had not protested themselves against
lit.
The United Mine Workers will make
a fight on the state constabulary bill.
There is some doubt as to its passage,
1t is reported.
Coal Tract Sold.