The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-19
NEW MARKETS
Or FEWER MEN,
CURES OFFERED
]. c. Albasin. Secretary Of
Mine Owners Association
Sees Shaos Ahea1
Ten Million : sthe Normal
Weekly Consumption, Met
By Mines Now, He Says.

New coal markets must be found or
production pared 20 conform with the
demand before the Industry can hope
to be freed Of economic disruptionS'
in the opinion o. J. c. AlbaSin, secre-
tary Of the Pittsburgh Vein opera
tors Association, who declared last
night at his home IL bridgeport that
there are $4,000 miners and 5000
mines in the United States that the
industry is unable to absorb.
Basing his conclusions on govern
ment statistics which placed tho aver
ace weekly consumption OF bitnnE-
nous coal 1t ln.nrr.uuo tons. NloaSni
asserted that with the coal tnduStr"
crippled and producing little more
than 90 per cent capacity, the outpW
easily met the demand.
Coupled with AlbaSlns stationery
came the declaration of j. II. Red
ding. general superintendent OF the
Wheeling division OF the PennsylTa'
min railroad. to tho effect that the car
supply was steadily increasing and
as the readjustment continues the
Pennsylvaia viii shortly furnish the
mines in the Belmont county area
adequate service.
When acquainted with Mr.. Red.
dins's views OF the situation AloaSin
said that. even with full supply o!
cars tine miras. IL operated capacity
or six weeks. would flood the coal
market.
Thus. according 20 Mr. Alhasir. PEI
not , question % adequate csr serve.
but q rca,.gnnent - labor o. the dis
covcry ~ new avenues OF consumptioa.
Asked 10 suggest solution Of the
industry's Ills. he expressed Z reluctance
TO do So. Othcr operators and u lca>'
one leader - the miners. not holding
executive office. however. said that Mr..
A!basin's views are correct
COMPLEX satuation.
Ar. Albaslt'S declaration that the
Industry is trugg.ing alorg under a
.osd OF excess production admittedly
carries wc!sh,. and federal irvestlga-
tors viii na doubt be 4 bit surprised
when he lays before them his views.
While ne declined ~ advance any So
tuition, Il WAS evident from the facts
laid down BY him that the irst th:ns
that must be done Ia stabilize
the industry IS "a shift the sur
Mus OF labor which Is pulling the
Industry into the musk OF industrial |
disorders or discover new avenues %
consumption.
The first seems the easier OF accom-
pfisEmen;. for. according to statistics.
this world markets OF coat are rarely
sit by scarcity o. Unanimous product.
The question naturally arises Will
the United Mine Workers, through
their accredited leaders consent 10 .
depletion OF th"!- ranks:
They might, acCordiu: to operators
and miners talked with. when shown
that no alternative existed. but 80 Ions
rs tho possibility OF finding new mar
kets Is IN tho osang IL Is doubtful II
thcy would DC become a party To what
might be construed rs the nrSe step IN
their DISSATISFACTION.
Federal Question.
IRYiew OF tho thousands OF men en-.
ployed in the cr.L Industry tho gov.
eminent would co justified In iaves;..
eating thoroughly tho whole question
of production and consumption, say
beth operators and miners.
A touch q! iroEy Is lent the situation
In the Wheelln:, area. however. when
reports are read here OF New York fac.
ing Goa, crisis and thousands Of fam
lies without heat while IN Belmont
county arc thousands Of families In
distress because they are denied the
chance to work the mines owing. they
say. TO the breakdown Of the railroads