The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-22
READlQSTNENIN
BySINE|..'SI|S 5
President Of Coal Opera.
tors Gives Views on
Outlook

when is the coal bu.lness 90.
Ing toYpick up?p
That g the question which Is
very much in the mind OF almost
everyone in West Virginia. A..
Isisie White, president OF the North.
crn West Virginia Coal Operators
association, is4in q position TO know
The facts In tho coal situation and
his view Is given below.
The coal business is going TO
Improve when It has become ad.
iugted to atter.the.war conditions"
says ir. White. I'VE might as we'll
ait Of US understand that a read
itBtment Is coming and get in line
With Il. Il Is a national condition
that We must take into account.
However tho situation in each
coal.mining district is individual.
In Northern West Virginia we have
o1r own peculiar problems. These
are not the problems OF tho mine
operator alone, but concern the wei
fare of every person In the north.
ern part Of tho state-opcrators,
miners, merchants, indeed every
ono in any line OF work or business
IN the district. Wo arc all going
10 be prosperous or unprosperous
together. Unless we arc able 10
Keep our mines running, everyone
IN the district suffers loss.
with railroad freight rates i'm.
posing a handicap on our section 10
competition with other districts
which mine similar grade of coal,
We are now In position where our
competitors are able TO underseil
US in the open market. Our mines
are now running far below their
normal capacity and 1t is safe 10
say that 80 per cent. OF the coal
coming out OF Northern West Vir.
ginta now is on contracts which
expire March 81.
During the period Of greatest
demand for coal and high prices
the operators IN this district pur.
sued a wise policy Of keeping faith
with those who had made contracts
for coal. The temptation to profit
teer was put aside and contracts
were fulfilled. That policy won the
friendship and the confidence OF
our ctIstomerss To that friendly
spirit Is largely due the renewal OF
contracts for the year which ls
soon to end.
But We cannot expect our custo-
mers to renew these contracts for
another year on a basis of friend
ship alone. And, in addition TO con.
tracts which will not OF themselves
keep our mines running on a profit.
able basis. We must be able to com.
pete IN the open market with other
districts. That means that the
Northern West Virginia district
( must be able to go out after orders
during the year beginning April l
in strictly competitive way and
that our costs must DO kept down
ITO a figure that will allow US to
meet the prices OF operators In 9th.
er regions.
II I'm considering tho matter OF a
wage scale for the coming year, tho
Northern West Virginia Coal Oper.
atoss' association has faced the ex-
act facts as we know them. When
that scale is ready, II will provide
for the highest wages that can be
paid and still leave our field in a
position 10 sell coal In competition
with other fields.
This Is not time for hagSling
and bargaining. It is to the inter.
est Of our miners as we'll as OF our.
selves that we continue 10 mine ana
sell coal. Furthermore, we ought
to DO In a position to increase pro.
duction instead Of going along on
the present Improbable basis. or
worse. Our interests are identical
and We shall take such action as
we know viii be for tho good OF the
district"