San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-16
COAL MINERS
EXPECTED To
END WALK0UT
Conditions Different Now
From Those Existing
in 1922.
NO SHORTAGE IN SIGHT
Some Of Large Railroads
Have Quantities of
Fuel Stored.
NO SHORTAGE IN SIGHT
Ry j. c. ROYLE.


Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
New York, Sept. 15.-Small doubt
remains that the tentative agreement
reached between the anthracite opera
tors and miners will be confirmed by
the meeting Of tine miners on Mon
day at Scranton, and that an lnme-
diate resumption of anthracite pro-
duction will follow.
Conditions now are far different
than when a similar convention met
last year to ratify the agreement
which ended the 1922 strike.
Then the bitter enders were III sucn
force that it required the utmost ef-
forts of President Lewis of the Mine
Workers and other conservative lead
ers to reach an agreement.
Now, however, one potent factor has
been brought into line.
Last year, Rinaldo Cappellini, the
one-armed firebrand of District No. /,
of the anthracite field, bitterly Oppos-
ed the settlement.
He nearly stood the miners conven-
ton on its head at that time.
This year. it is reported. Cappellini
stood OH his head in celebration of the
gain of 10 per cent in wages accorded
under the new agreement.
Supply to Be Adequate.
The settlement which is believed to
be assured for Monday, will insure an
adequate supply of coal for the COM
ing states. but it is expected that It
will result in an immediate rise in
prices not only for that grade OF coal
but for bituminOus also.
The anthracite industry must Gb-
sorb an increase of at least So .5O0.-
600 year in wages due to the III per
cent increase and the establishment
of the eight-hour day for all work
erS.
Governor Pinchot Of Pennsylvania,
had declared that this must entail an
advance of at least 60 cents ton in
the price of coal at the mine.
Railroads and distributors whom it
was suggested ought to absorb 80 per
cent of this increase are prepared TO
offer vigorous resistance to any such
procedure.
Any freight rate reductions must
necessarily be subjected to hearings
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
Fact-finding reports by the coal
commission or other federal bodies
must also be subjected TO presenta-
ton of economists by the coal opera
tors and distributors.
Any change in rates which it is pos
sible to impose. therefore. by either
state or federal authorities must be
subjected 20 delay which will carry
through the present winter season.
The bituminous coal producers were
all ready to jump to the front with
flood Of fuel in event Of a long-con-
tinued SUSPENSION of anthracite pro-
duction. As consequence there are
thousands of thousands of tons of
coal above ground today which are
not ealable for the moment.
This will entail a further curtaii-
ment of bituminous operations.
Already many of the soft coal mines
of Pennsylvania and the Middle West
are on schedule which provides
three days of work week or less.
Production Costs Mount.
The figures on cost of production
com 5iled by the Federal Coal Commits
sion show that when soft coal mines
are operating at 60 per cent of capa-
city or less, the cost of production
increases nearly in equal ratio.
1t is therefore costing every soft
coal mine in the country somewhere
near Il dollar ton more to produce
soft coal than would be the case If the
mines were working at capacity.
Heretofore tho nublir has been COM
PEELED to absorb any increase in the
cost of coal production and there is
no reason apparent why it will not be
compelled TO do so in the present situ-
alton.
Coke has fallen in price.
The Northwest. which suffered Tor
fuel last winter. has had tremendous
volume poured into its coal pockets as
result of unprecedented shipping ac-
tiyity on the Great Lakes.
Some of the largest consumers
among the railroads, notably the
Pennsylvania System, have stored sup
plies of fuel.
Some householders have taken adj
vantage of the situation and have laid
in adequate supplies for the win
ter. .H
But these who have laid in coal
will avoid the possibility OF having
| to nay an increased price for their
fuel before the winter is over. al
though there is not any coal shortage
and will not be any.