The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-20
HERE
AFTERTRHR.GOAL
FDRCOM|NG YEAR
P. & R. Fuel Inspector Wis.,
tied Local Officers in
Fairmont Today.
WANTS 100000 TONS
B. & o. Car Supply Fair for
saturday-Boulder on
Monongahela.

AS the April / season is advancing
the railroads are Starting to send their
representatives into the Fairmont re.
gion to line up contracts for the ensu-
ing year. Today II. w. Carhcart, fuel
inspector of the, Philadelphia & Read
ing railroad, with headquarters at the
Reading Terminal, Philadelphia, called
at certain local coal offices in refer
ence to securing tonnage. 1t is be-
lieved that the P. & r. wants to secure
about 100000 to 100000 tons of fuel
on contract.
It is true that the railroads have hit
the coal operators in the Fairmont re-
gion under the belt in many instances
and us a result the industry has been
disorganized by their influences, but
nevertheless, coal operators realize
that the railroads must be taken care
of. What was done under the control
of the United States railroad; admins
tration is not being held against the
railroads as private concerns 1t is
believed that. the regular shippers will
take care Of the Philadelphia and
Reading railroad tonnage as 1t is said
to have been, very desirable business
in the past and about as fine as any
rafiroad contracts placed in the. Fair
mont region. "A
OF course the buyer of a railroad
runs up against a snag usually when
he is trying to buy coal these days as
he is Immediately confronted with un-
paid bills Of their own railroads which
wa sconfiscated or diverted while un-
der government control. In addition
to the operator certifying that the coal
is not being sold to the railroad in ex-
cess OF the original contract price en-.
tered into prior to October 80, 1913,
or spo tcoal that 1t was sold in excess
of the government [. o. b. mine run
price or lower than the government
price he is usually confronted with a
lot OF red tape.
Railroad have in instances paid the
price on export coal, that is. the
amount paid the shipper, except in
cases where 1t was pooled in a name
of a company, where 1t was believed
that coal would be placed for specula-
tion purposes. In the latter cases only
the government price was paid
The Labor Situation.
Operators and officials of the United
Mine Workers have little to say today
on President Wilson's announcement
that he expects the bituminous opera
tors and miners to work out their con.
tract for the new coal year, which
starts on April L.
The situation reverts to the former
statis that of a pitched battle between
the operators and miners, which prob
ably will result in a series of negotia.
tions.
Ban on Export Bunker.
According to information received in
Fairmnot there is notice posted at
the custom house at Baltimore to the
eject that no bunker coal will be per-.
mitted to be shipped from that port
prior to April 30.
Daily Car Supply.
Cars on the Monongah division of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to.
day are right fair considering the fact
that this is the last day in the week.
The supply will run 35 per cent. on the
division. The early morning place
ment was 500. AS result, OF the car
shortage there were rs mines idle to
day. Today's cars are classified as
follows: Open, 627; coke, %: n. e. c.
x, 10; M. v. T., %. Cars left over
from the previous day were rs.
There are no cars in the West Vir-
ginia district OF the Monongahela rail,
road today. The operators at this end
are Beginning to think they are tout
of luck. Recently they have had few
cars as it was without Mother Nature
helping the good work along. A 6-ton
rock fell ON the track at Rosedale
mines, near Maidsville, and no cars
went south of that point, as it oc.
cured last night at 5 o'clock. Despite
this fact, however, there would have
been few If any cars anyway as there
are only 46 cars placed In the Penn.
sylvania district The indications are
that the supply on Monday will run so
per cent. and possibly 60 per cent, The
tcontinued on rage Four,l