The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-04-26
LOW COAL DEMAND
DOMINANT FACTOR
Takes Precedence IN Strike Results
Below Daily Output.

lakeS precedence In Strike Results.
/ Below Daily Output.
Washington, April 23.-Lack of de-
mand, rather than strike conditions,
continues to hold down bituminous
coal production according to latest
figures assembled by the United
States geological survey On Tues
day and Wednesday of last week,
however, the output jumped to above
lu, 200 car loads per day, against
H917 cars on Monday, the low point
registered by the effect OF Easter
holidays. For the week ending April
10 the bituminous output OF the coun-
try was placed at 3,675,000 tons, and
the survey report observed that more
coal could be produced if the demand
increased, since the full capacity Of
non-union fields has not yet been
brought ont"
| From the union standpoint "the
strike is running along in a normal
fashion" the United Mine Workers de-
clared in statement tutlay. Efforts
10 get non-union miners to join their
organized craft Fellows were asserted
TO be progressing most satisfactorily,
with approximately $4,000 of them
now out, "and good reason for the
| prediction that the coming week vii,
aud 10000 more" Tire advance of the
union into unorganfzed fields was de-
| clare dto be most effective in West
moeland Fayette, and Greene coun-
ties, Pennsylvania, which are sources
of steel industry coke
Mention or the various legal pro-
ceedings resulting from the strike
was made in the unions discussion o,
the situation and reference to the ap-
preaching treason trials in West Vir-
ginia, where leaders Of the so-called
miners army" which advanced to
close non-union coal operators "whose
lawyers are leading the cases, rather
than state of West Virginia." the mine
workers said, disclose the real pur-
pose behind these Indictments" was
to break up the miners union and
drive it out Of West Virginia. The
oi>oS puih VI llOIl-uulOu commercial
soft coal, the survey report shows,
is now from this state"
Government agencies indicated
some activity last week in connection
with the price situation. Following
the inquiry by Secretary of Labor
Davis and Attorney General Daugher-
ty into local and, so far, only slight
advances OF coal prices, several oper-
ators Of large non-union coal prop
critics came to Washington yesterday
and wcre closeted in various confer
ences with high government officials.
silence was maintained by all parties
to the discussion but it is under
stood that leaders in the coal industry
have been told that any development
OF a runaway market" would alter
overnight the "hands off" policy main
tanned by the administration since
April I, after all it's efforts to induce
operators and miners to confer in ad-
vance Of the walkout had proved
futile.
The geological surveys report to-
day dealt largely with the existing
soft coal surplus, which is held by in
dustrial observers to be the price
controlling element at present. About
100000 tons week is being taken
from this surplus, which amounted to
G3,OOO,000 tons when the strike began,
the survey said. Cars of coal on the
tracks, but without buyers on April
10, numbered 2S,745, a decline from
April 1 when the total was 31,373. Car
supply at mines, formerly a cause of
lowered production, the survey said,
was "well-nigh perfect" adding that
all Of it's figures on coal stocks and
productions came from sources un-
concerned with controversial views Of
operators and miners.
Consumers are not buying enough
to call out full production of those
mines which are ready to work." was
the surveys analysisyof the situation.