Evening star., 1923-01-18
AGREEMENT NEAR
IN COAL DISPUTE
Auto Firms Heavy Buyers Of
SteeI-Rubber Farley
Planned in London.
ny J. c. ROYLE..
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, January 1S.-Largs
coal consumers throughout tho cast,
ern half Of the United States awaited
the result Of the wage conference %
coal miners and operators Of the cen.
trail competitive field. which began
mere today, with keen anticipation ~
speedy agreement.
The question of wages, delegates
indicated, would not he a dominant
factor in the negotiations, as there
was little opposition against con-
tinuation of the present scale. The
extent Of that continuation. however.
must be ironed out Operators desire
TO limit it to one year from APRIL /,
Whlle the miners seek extension ID.
two years.
Steel Outlook Bright
The possibility of a strike Of miner,
IN the bituminouS fields next April has
been one of the new clouds on ire
horizon of profitable industrial actfl
Ity and expansion during tho coming
year Some of the steel mills am!
other large consumers have alreadv
pegun piling up fuel reserves. and i
dehnite settlement would go far to.
ward encouraging expansion ~
manufacturing output
reports from steel company eXccu-
tlNeS In all the great centerS east Df
mas been general, for buyers in haste
today show that order books iuStifv
plant increases in many lines Tnda-
pendent producers in recent weeks
nave booked more orders than tho>
nave shipped and the improvement
has been general for buyers in haste
| Tor prompt deliveries have turned -
thoSe manufacturers least heavill
booked. in order TO secure speedy
shipments. The steel market is strun4
and indications that lower prices are
not to be expected is stimulating tEq
buying movement.
Auto Firms Heavy Buyers.
The only Immediate check TO the cN-
panslon is shortage Of skilled and
semi skilled labor. In Ohio many ul
tho largest plants arc running at
I0o per cent Of capacity, and in tie
Mahonlng valley operations are 1T
about 30 per cent, tho highest point
reached in two years. Plant mauaG gers
see no let-up until April Or Ala ~
earliest The demand for steel shr,ta
has been 50 heavy from automobile
manufacturers that nany Ohin m.i-
ers have withdrawn from the lnat-
kct, indicating expectation Of higher
I4prices.
Representatives Of tho British rub
Der producers will begin Il series 81
producers regarding slackcning ut
the export tax restrictions imposed
| by the British colonial government
which have been. responsible for the
rise in price, but little IS expected
here from these conferences in view
of the known determination Of some
of the British producers to peg tla
price of crude rubber d around 50 td
36 cents.
Oil DRILLING Resumed.
The second advance in crude oil
prices within the week has resulted
in wide resumption of drilling
operations in the midcontinent field
in both proven and wildcat territory,
The renewed activity in the petro-
leum market has been followed bV
demands on some eastern refiners for
wage increases. This activity has all
ready stimulated demand for Ian
weld pipe and other oil field equip-
ment.
Tobacco manufacturers are fore.
casting slightly higher prices for
their products in view of the in
creased demand and the strong trend
in leaf tobacco.