Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-07-28
Government to Take a Hand
Ia Coal Situation.


Washington, July 25.--The gov
ernment will take definite steps to-
morrow in an effort to straighten
out muddled coal situation.
The interstate commerce commits
sion will issue an order for priority
of movement in the transportation
of coal to New England. The order
is expected to include a prohibition
against the movement Of any coal
to tidewater unless consigned to
New England. This, in view of the
coal experts, will amount to an en-
barge on the expectation of coal.
Under an order recently issued by
the commission, more than a score OF
railroads serving bituminous mines
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virgin
ia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennes-
see will begin to move coal to lake
ports for transshipment to the north
west. The summer movement of coal
to the northwest is more than SO per
cent behind the schedule and the rail
roads will attempt to dump 1000
carloads of coal day at Lake ports,
Department of labor conciliators
tomorrow will begin their efforts to
bring an end to the walkout of mine
leaders in the Illinois fields down
about two-thirds of the mines.
Officials of government agencies
concerned in the Strengthening out of
the coal tangle today read the state
ment issued by John L. Lewis, pres
ident of the United Mine Workers,
in Indianapolis last night, but de-
clined to comment. Mr.. Lewis in his
statement declared that any settle
ment of the Illinois strike which
would modify the basic interstate
agreement under which the miners
of the central competitive field now
are working would result in action
by national officers of the United
Mine Workers to bring about a ces-
sation of work by the 100000 men
employed in that field.
The National Coal Association, an
organization of operators said to rep
resent two-thirds of the county's bl-
luminous production, in a statement
today took exception to several of
the assertions made by Mr.. Lewis.
The association denied that the Hi
nois operators had expressed the de-
sire to have the existing wage con-
tract amended as stated by the pres
ident of the mine workers.
Exceptions was also taken by the
association to Mr.. Lewis assertion
that the coal operators were charg-
ing unprecedented price for coal.
The average price for coal at the
mines, the association statement said
was from $3.50 to $4.00 and such
speculation and competitive bidding
by consumers compelled to buy coal
at any price had boosted prices to
from S12 to SIS ton.
The question of coal costs and
prices was covered by the federal
trade commission in its fourth
monthly bulletin on .bituminous coal
costs issued today. The commission
er's review of the bituminous indus
try for April showed that the
average sales realizing of the ol2
operators reporting for that month
was 1926 a ton while the average
reported f. o. b. mine cost amounted
to s2.76. Of the latter amount s2.o4
represented labor costs per ton, 81
cents the cost of supplies and Al
cents general expense or overhead.
The difference between the sales
realization and tn f. o. b. mine cost
was so cents a ton, which the COM
mission emphasized could not be
considered such as selling costs and
interest.