South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-24
PERMANENT PEACE
OF COAL PROBLEM
IS NEEDED In U. S.
Expert Says Operating Mines
Not So Profitable Miners
Welcome Solution.


with PeuusyIVauls state Depart
menf OF Labor and Industry
PITT4BI- RICH. Pa April ga
The mine owner. who has his capl-
tai invested. and manages the pro-
ducti7n and die. ribution 10 meet the
requlre.uents ~ the open. and at
times very uncertain market, has
many problems Of which the public
and the miners have but little
-knowIedge They have become the
targets for abuse and criticism from
all sources
The consuming public complains
continuously about the cost OF coal
without taking into consideration
THAI there are many prohteers who
have no capital Invested I'm the pro-
duction Of coal The profteer In
coal lands may purchase coal from
the holder at $50 per acre and sell
8. 20 the mine owner ~ from $1,000
90 $4,000 per acre.
The railroads that haul 10 the dis
tributing points. the coal broker
who secures the contracts and the
retail dealer al exact "a substantial
profit
Thee are numerous other smaller
items that add % the cost. but the
greatest item Of expense which the
consumer must pay is the interest
on the enormous capital invested,
one half of which would be sufii-
Client 10 insure the nations fuel sup
plv under normal conditions.
AS stated before developed mines
are perishablc property. "A mine pro
duc.ng 1000 tons Of coal per day
wnen working on full schedule Will
nave an expense on an average OF
$1,000 each day II - idle for over
head charges and deterioration. II
is true that many mine owners
made a large profit during the re-
cent world war. but under normal
conditions there are few OF them a
financial success. Many large com
panies went bankrupt others are
struggling along on borrowed capt.
IA from banking interests. The
financial losses during the present
depression nave been enormous, and
many mine owners are confronted
with sheriff sales
Not to Invest Capital In
The excessive development, the
ruinOus competition. the uncertain
~ of business. the lack Of any regu-
lation on production or distribution,
makes the coal industry the M ost
undesirable of any business in
which to invest capital In the oper-
ator's efforts 10 keep down costs Of
production they are obliged to en-
gage i'm frequent Industrial wars
with their miRers and often well
come a suspension of work in order
% raise the market price.
Unless something is done prompt
rs 90 stabilize the mining industry.
and protect the capital at present
invested, many employers are GER
tain Co sustain enormous financial
losses
The consuming public has not
given much concern 10 the source
OF our fuel supply. Tt protests Wig
orously against the prices It is re-
quired 90 pay 20 the retail or whole
sale dealers Consumers are usually
informed that the reason for this
is the excessive profits or the mine
owners. or the high wages Of the
miners. This has caused a deep
seated public prejudice against the
miner and operator. not much ere
dence being given 10 reports that
the mine workers are starving or
that the mine owners are facing
Bankruptcy
Consumers are shocked occasion
ally when they learn Of a mine dis
aster. accompanied by "A great loss
OF life and the destruction of min
ing property.
When the industrial relations ~
the mine owners and miners are
such that strike or suspension
takes place and the public cannot
obtain fuel consumers express
their disapprovaI and condemn both
mine owner and miner and with
the consumer paying the bulk OF
the expense. This has been done
over and over again az frequent IN
tervals ever since tho mining indus
irv has become a factor i'm our in
dusJrlal system.
The Dublic's interest has been
grossly neglected. since they have
suffered through lack Of fuel az
times and have been compelled TO
pay several dollars additional per
ton as their share of the expense
for the demoralized condition of the
coal industry herein referred to.
Unless drastic change takes
place and our Government regulates
the production distribution and
profits Of the mining industry there
WfI ne no assurance that Won will
no all times have an ample supply
80 fuel at any price The public
should take the lead join with the
miner and mine owner. and demand
protective legislation that viii in-
sure an adequate supply Of coal reg
guIar,y. ar reduced cost. Protect
she mine worker against starvation
wages. unemployment and oNtraor-
binary hazards. and also protect the
mine owners who have their capita
Invested in this industry
Plans and Policies.
Some economists advocate unem-
pioyment insurance which would
guarantee payment OF wages "a
anime workers who were idle
Through mo- fault Of their own. Thi,
would have been a fine arrange
meut for the miners during the past
wear when they were idle about
two-thlrd~ 81 the time The added
cos would make the selling price
OF coal prohibitive and deprive a
large portion Of our popGistiou Of