Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-10
APPEAL FOR COAL
SPURS {. F. { |.
MEN TO RECORD
Miners Make Individual Output
Mark That, as Far as CON-
pany Knows, Has Not Been
EquaIed, States President


Denver, March 9.-The appeal of
the United States Fuel Administra-
ton for increased coal output during
the summer and fan of 1913 was re-
sponded to by coal miners Of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
with a better record than miners In
any other district of the country, ac-
cording TO the annual report of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company dis
tributed TO stockholders today. The
record as given by J. f. Welborn,
president of the company, includes
increase in the daily output per man
and reduction in the average amount
of time lost by laying off
The annual reprt shows gross re-
ceipts of $4S,233,575, compared with
$43,51S,616 m 1917. The operating
expenses were S40,769.20 compared
with $S4,S52,972 in 1917, leaving net
earnings from operation of $7,4G4,-
368, compared with $S,6G5,G44 in
1917.
Incline from sources other than OPP
Grafton was $6S6,742, making a total
net income of $S,101,1l1, compared
with $9,473,57S in 1917.
The deduction of bond interest,
general taxes, sinking funds and fire
insurance fund, amounting to $2,7Sl,-
0S9, left a net income above fixed
charges of s5,320,022.
Against this were charged the fol-
lowing sums S334,366 for depletion
of coal ore and limestone reserves;
s1,6T5,333 for depreciation on build
ings and equipment $17S,276 to COW
er reduction in book values on raw
materials and supplies to correspond
with present market prices
This left a net income of sS,132,
047, from which was deducted $400,-
I coo, the estimated amount of income
and excess profits taxes. Dividends
of eight per cent on the preferred
stock and three per cent on the COM
mon stock amounted to $1,1S6,S SIS,
leaving a net of $l.545,172 carried to
the credit of profit and loss
Referring to the recent campaign
for increased coal production, Presi-
dent Welborn says:
The manner in which our coal
mine employees responded to the
United States Fuel Administrators
appeal for increased production made
a record in output per man and in
reduced idle time that, so far as we
are able to learn. was not equaled
elsewhere. Our campaign for in
creased coal production actually be-
gan in the winter of 1916-17, when
company officials and employees rep
resentatives, elected under the indus
trial representation plan, cooperated
in efforts to bring production up to
requirements. The result was a con-
siderable increase in output, as is
shown by figures. With the organi-
cation of the production division Of
the National Fuel Administration in
the summer of 1918, this earlier cam
paign was combined with that of the
government. Committees of EN-
ployees were elected by their fellow
workmen to stimulate industry ana
to discourage the practice of losing
time. The power to grant leave Of
absence to miners was transferred
from the mine superintendent to
these committees of workmen. Pub
lie opinion in the mining towns
proved to be a powerful air, the min
err who laid off unnecessarily being
looked upon as a Stacker.
How well these efforts succeeded
is shown by the following figures: As
a result of the initial campaign the
production per man per day in. Janu-
airy, 1917, was 5,S3 tons; in February,
So; in March, COG: in April, COS: in
May, 6.33 tons. In June, 1913, a year
later, the average was 6.69 tons: in
July 1t was CTS; in August, 6.93: in
September further gain was made.
By october the average daily produc-
ton had reached 1926 tons; an in
crease over January, 1917, of LAB tons
or about PAS per cent. Equally graft
flying was the decrease in the amount
of time lost. In June 1918, the per-
cent of possible shifts lost was 10
per cent, In october this percentage
had been reduced to 4.165.
The machinery for negotiation be-
tween the management and employees,
provided by the industrial representa-
ton plan, proved its worth in the cam
paign for steady work and increased
production"
The report refers to increases in
wage rates and freight charges, and
adds:
These increases in operating costs
and the radical reduction in demand
for both coal and steel during the
last two months Of the year, coupled
with serious Interference with opera
tons by the influenza epidemic COM
mencing in September, accounted for