Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-16
[Ry Associa,cd rrcs.l

A'S -NNS'Glt''f r'Ss-
NEW YORK April I5.-The Rus
sell Sage Foundation. in lengthy
report on The Coal Miners Insecur-
n.y." made public today. holds that
no satisfactory agreement of n per-
manent nature on wage rates can
be reached between miners and ouor-
ators in the bituminous coal indus
try until steps have been taken TO
curb what the report Describes as
IN" ov"rdcvelopmcnt OF many more
mines than are required to supply
the Country's needs" This override
vclopmcnt the report declares has
resulted In giving an average Of only
III days Of employment annually to
the 100000 men employed in the in
dusiry' thus multiplying the advan-
tages OF wage increases
Data Covers ThIrty-Two Years.
In giving out the report. the foun-
dalton states that IL Investigated the
coal situation in connection with it's
study OF human relations in indus
Try, ana that IL has analysed data
on irrcSuiariiy OF production and
employment in biiuminous mining
extending over period Of thirty
two years. These data. the rcpor;
adds, include the most recent statis-
TICS on annual earnings and kindred
subjects, compiled 10y the United
states Geological Survey the Ma
ttonal Goal Association. the United
Mine Workers. tho United States Blu
reau of Labor Statistics and various
state bureaus OF mines.
\ summary of Ia" report ms pre-
pared 10y the Russell Sage Founda-
ton says:
The bituminous coal mines have
been open for work on an average
of only ia days u year In the ,hr-
ty-two years from 1890 through
1921. II 30i days be regarded rs a
fun working year. the lost days Of
employment and Of mine operation
have averaged ninety in year. Only
twice, and this during the war did
the miner reach the high mark. when
he had as few as sixtyone idle days
in year. In eleven of these thir-
ty-two years the loss of working
time. and consequently OF wages. has
averaged 100 days or more for the
bituminous miner.
Due To OycrdeveIopmcnt
"Of these los; days. 81 per cent.
according 10 the estimates of the
United states Geological Survey. have
been due To the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of
soft coal mines. Mines now in oper-
alton could produce from 100000. OO6
to 800 100000 tons 4 year. accord
ing 70 various estimates of the Pres
!dents Bituminous Coal Commission
and statisticians OF the geological
survey. while the country can use
500. 100000 tons.
This excess OF capacity over pro-
duction brings more men into tho
industry than are needed and makes
intermittent and uncer-
tain, even when business in general
is most prosperous. AS the demand
for soft coal has increased from a
little over lOO.000.O0O tons to over
1000. 600 tons annually in the past
three decades, the number OF mines
and the number OF employees have
increased, but the days OF employ
ment in a year have shown no APP
prcciablc increase. except temporarily
during the period of the war. In
creased demand and higher prices
have resulted in opening new mines
others and employing more
miners. rather than in giving more
regular employment to men in the
mines already open.
Seasonal Variations In Demand
seasonal variations In demand. ac-
cordinS to the geological survey. ac-
count for 81 per cent Of the lost DAYS
in bituminous mining. In the period
from 1913 to 1922. the production OF
coaI III TIE month OF greatest output
exceeded production in the month of
least output by 1l.000000 to 10000
600 tons or more and was never less
man $4,000 tons. Seasonal huctu-
atoms result in keeping more men
and more capital in the industry to
DO equipped for the annual peak of
de mand than would be needed il work
were more evenly distributed
throughout the year. This excess Of
employed tends. in turn. to
make employment irregular and un-
certain. Nevertheless, even the elm
inhtion Of seasonal variations would
not make employment regular us long
as too many minSg are operated
ITO offset periods OF id!eness and
lack OF earnings. the bltuminous
miners are forced To seek higher
rates Of pay. But these higher rates
do not give the miner living wage
throughout the year, when he has
the opportunity TO earn wages so
few days In the year. In 1920 the
United Mine Workers reported to the
Bituminous Coal Commission that in
the year OF greatest regularity of