Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-01-15
Blizzard IN
Mine REGION
Coal Commission Fears
Storm Will Delay Fuel
Shipments
STRIKES HAVE
CUT PRODUCTION

/ This was a blue Monday in local
coal circles. News OF a blizzard rag
ing in the anthracite regions of
Pennsylvania coupled with falling of
in receipts OF fuel by dealers served
10 put damper on the optimism
expressed last week that the famine
situation was less acute.
The weather is our best ally, +"
remarked Robert d. Kemp, city fuel
distributor. and his words were
echoed by Leon Walke-, chairman
OF the state Fuel Commission, who
spent most of the morning at the
commissions office, 9O3 King street,
endeavoring to obtain fresh supplies
Of anthracite and It's substitutes for
consumers.
Complaints are still received that
the quality Of some of the substitutes
sold is very poor and almost impos-
slble to burn.
Efforts 10 rectify this condition are
being made by the commissions offi-
GERS
The blizzard in the anthracite
regions is declared serious by dis
patches from Hazleton, Mahonay
City Bloomsbury. Pottsville and
Easton. The distance separating
these places indicates that the storm
is widespread.
with an indicated shortage ap-
proximately 40 per cent. In the sup
haaa a
further heavy loss of production due
10 outlaw strikes" since September
IL. when the mines reopened.
According to compilation just
completed by the Anthracite Blu
reau Of Information, the operations
Of thirteen companies, were shut
down for a total Of Sc days between
Sept II and Dec. Is. and more
than 1880 men were involved in
the suspensions.
This does not take into consider
alton the production lost on ac-
count of holidays. At one collierY
1850 men stopped work for fou-
days and deprived the public Of
1900 tons of coal because the COM
pany refused TO discharge a miner.
The miner in question offended the
union by producing more coal in
day than the union rules permitted
and then refused to pay the fine Inn
posed by the union.
At another colllery 1900 mine
workers went out for five days and
lost 1880 tons Of production, be-
cause some union carpenters en-
ployed on construction work. refused
TO Join the miners union as we'll a.
their own organization. II was not
until a former official Of the miners
union. now a mediator for the
United States Department OF Labor,
advised the miners that they could
not expect the carpenters 10 belong
to two unions that the men resumed
producing coal.
Four miners were suspended for
loading dirty coal at one mine,
whereupon 600 men struck for day
on the four occasions. with total
loss in production OF $500 tons.
Three so-called button strikes
involving questions OF union disci-
pline in three collieries operated by
one company. kept 947 men out of
work and caused loss in production
Of AGO tone. In another colliery
operated by the same company S94
men struck FOR two days to force the
discharge OF a foreman. The pro
ducuon loss in this case amounted
to 4.705 tons.
In the strengthening OF railroad
credit and the maintenance of
peaceful industrial relations a way
can be found TO provide more
a adequate and more reasonably pric-
ed coal supply for the nation, ac-
cording TO a report OF special
committee OF the American Rail
way Association filed today with
the United States Coal Commission.
II regulative bodies and commits
slons will adopt such an attitude
toward railroads as will convince
the public that money invested IN
railroads will receive a fair return"
the report said, carriers will be
able to increase facilities 10 assure
transportation OF the supply. while
prevention OF strikes would allow
regular production without conges-
ton such as that now develops
when consumers endeavor 10 take
in all Of a winters supply in COM
few weeks"