Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-27
HEARINGS OPEN
TO SET STATES
PRICES ON COAL.
Representative of Operators
Points Varied Conditions
at Mines.
RETAILERS COME LATER

Details concerning car shortage, mine
disability, strikes and other labor trou-
bles and cost cf operation were pre-
sented to the special coal and food COM
mission by James A. Cooper Of Terre
Haute, attorney for the coal operators,
at the opening of the hearing of the
coal situation at the Statehouse today.
The hearing is being held for the pur.
pose Of determining a price to be fixed
for coal within the state under the act
Of the last special session Of the legis-
lature.
TALKS FOR % LOCAL
OPERATORS IN STATE.
Mr.. Cooper represents ninety eight
coal operators of the State.
Chairman Jesse z. Eschbach stated that
all coal operators, dealers, retailers and
others concerned would be given ample
opportunity to express their views on the
coal situation during the next few days.
In answer to an inquiry Of Frank Noel
Of the commission, Mr.. Cooper stated
that the ninety eight operators repre-
sented by him were licensed.
J. 3. Filbert Of the Diamond Fourth
Vein Coal Company represented about
ten other operators in his explanation OF
the wagon mining conditions before the
commission this afternoon
Particular problems develop in the coal
industry, Mr.. Cooper pointed out, which
are not found in other lines Of endeavor.
and particularly in Indiana where the
industry is manifold in its phases.
Mr.. Cooper explained that for purposes
Of the fuel administration Indiana
Indiana was divided into districts, chiefly
bituminous coal, Brazil block coal, and
another district which took in layer coal.
Ia to Cd h. +orh
nical problems connected with the mining
Of coal in each district.
WAGES PAID AMOUNT
TO SAME EVERYWHERE.
With nineteen counties in the State
mining coal, fourteen are actually ship
ping, Mr.. Cooper said.
The costs OF production and the wage
scale in the mines are practically the
same, while under certain bureaus and
operators the percentage OF coal mined
and delivered to the consumer varies, he
explained.
Mr. Cooper explains that the Indiana
Coal Trade Bureau has an annual pro-
duction OF from 45 to 90 per cent of the
coal mined in the State; that the Knox
County Association has from 10 to Is per
cent, while the Southern Indiana Coal
Bureau has less than 10 pc rcent.
Inc remaining approximate 30 per cent
is attributed to operators Of the state
who are not members of the bureaus men
toned
Statistics submitted by Mr.. Cooper to
the commission were gathered by him
from Geological Survey Records of the
United States
The statistics cover the supply Of the
various districts, the rate adjustments,
traffic matters. together with such cthe-
information as Mr. Cooper has himself
complied.
SHOW RUN(ING DAYS
MAKE BIG DIFFERENCE.
The running time of mines was fea-.
tnred IN the statements of Mr.. Cooper,
who placed several plats and charts with
the commission, showing the cost price
and cost plus figures OF mining opera
tions for certain numbers of days.
In one instance he cited a case where
two mines owned and operated by the
same stockholders, under the same execu-
tive management, disposed of coal at a
difference OF $21S per ton, due to the
Continued on Page Two)