Evening star., 1922-12-12
NEW COAL STRIKE
POSSIBLE IN SPRING
Operators and Miners Still
Far Apart on Wages and
Working Agreements.
By J. &. ROYLE:.

Special Dispatch In The Star.
NJ" YORK. December l2.-'The
stands taken by the coal operator.
and the miners on Questions Of nev
wage and working agreements. which
will come up for settlement prx,
April, are still far apart 4 possible
coal strike next spring may disrupt
industrial programs and the situation
today is being closely watched a..
manufacturers and consumers
At present industrial pay rolls m
the great Pittsburgh steel and coal
section have leaped above s, 100. .o"c
day. A wonderful wave Of buyirg
IS sweeping through retail "hann"ls.
Belching stacks indicate that the
steel industry today has reached a
more settled condition than has OH
tanned in the last year. Mills ard
furnaces in the Pittsburgh. Young
town and Wheeling sections are pra.--
tlraily on a capacity basis in r"~i
instances. although there is a Slight
slowing down as result of tho holt
day season.
The placing of large railroad "rde,,
has been followed by fun runs ~ The
great Homestead Duauesnc. Braa-
dock and other plants of tho tarn"g.-
Steel company. Jones Laughs y
and other independents are enjoying
similar prosperity.
More Business Stability.
Tho ficticious character of tho bay
ing. which was in evidence earlier IN
the year and which was due To :te
coal and rail strikes of 1929 has pcs
ed. Premiums for early deiiverit
have been eliminated by the uaeN-
pected nome ntun Of steel productions
Expected price advances have faiic'i
| to nIaterialize for tho first quarter .:
| 1923 and the steel industry has reach
ed A more settled condition.
Steel men agree that there =
measure of stability in the n.arhc;
! which might have disappeared WIN
price advances. Current quotatio;,'
are tempting to consumers and maj
ket conditions today permit them L.
eliminate prospects OF ruaawa
market from their immediate calcr-
! lations.
But il another coal strike beoou",
imminent il may force d rush :"
place orders for steel ard 9th"
manufactured products depending ~
/, in large VA. upon coal for The;
making This would mean a bu! ii,..
movement featured by the pIacins %.
large orders with probable "i"va'i' d
in prices and premiums for quick q.
liveries.
STEADY Production Seen.
Prices now are at a level WINCH. /.
is believed. will encourage c"nsiInip-
t;on aud necessitate heavy and stcaG
production. with the natural accompar
ment Of lower producing costs. Bu' :
orders 70 anticipate strike are wid"'
placed. il will put an unnatural t"i'
, pl-Xion on the situation unSsttle cor
ditions and adversely affect business , d
the long run. Such orders have rot ! -
made their appearance, however.
. fff-l n l,s
as fast as cars can be secured tn NOV
il. Reserve Stocks all over .h, 'lUi
try dropped during the strike. and the"
are being repiepished. buI possihi" pr
, sumption. and. with dropping prices,
some of the smaller MINES raN h'
forced To curtaiI operations. linpeg' ,
the possibility Of an April siri,e ~
inducing leading consumers Gradual.
to acquire stocks. and this is Il sup
porting factor in the market Ar prts
ent production Is being rushed an'i
is nearly at the wartime peak bass
Other Buniaess Comment.
The application OF Henry Ford {"
permiss ion 10 use water power n-a
the Twin cities to supply lare"
plant located in that SECTION is s;.l'
another step Of the many IN the es
free himself from dependea"e o.
, others for fuel. power OF raw and
sem:-finished materials.
The advance of !" per cent il thr
price of Fisk tires was forecast in
these columns on December \. Specu-
latorS il the raw rubber market are
being closely watched. as IL X II
mored a considerable short Interest
exists. which may attempt to cove :
before January ]. The eat IN II"
prices OF Haynes and Hudson not"r
cars is taken in automobile circles
TO indicate program for an incrcas..
in output by those makes.