Evening star., 1925-07-31
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

the end of 1918 the miners index was
l6l and the operators index was 1S4 q
After the Pinchot compromise in
1928, the miners index was 235, while
the non-absorbing operators showed
how one good rise deserves another,
by pushing prices until their index
was 25S. Always the operators in
creased disproportionately beyond the
rises achieved by the man who dug
the coal.
BY the compromise. adding 10 per
cent to the miners wages, 60 cents a
ton was added to the labor cost of pro-
duction. The operators had already
boosted selling prices from $746 in
1913 to $15.10 in 1928, but now they
not only added in the so cents extra
cost of labor to the S15.10 selling price
but the sum became S15.77.
The anthracite field is limited to an
area of 500 square miles and is held
by very few owners, mostly coal
hauling railroad companies. The con-
troll is absolute. So completely is the
output governed that. except during
the war, there has been no increase
of production for u years. to keep
pace with the growth of population
and demand.
In 1913 the production was 81 524
922 tons: in 1924 it was only 90,214, 900
tons, which was a shortage of l 300, 900
tons under that of 1918. according to
the United States Geological Survey.
The aggregate production Of anthra-
cite for the present calendar year, UP
to July IL, was 47,S03. 900 tons, which
is 509, 600 tons less than produced in
the same period last year, notwith-
standing the fact that the contract
with miners would expire September
l, with probability of a dispute and
possible strike interfering with opera.
tlons. The operators hold in stock to-
day only two months supply.
While the 1924 contract with the
bltuminous miners has 20 months to
run, the United Mine Workers,
through their president, John l..
Lewis, claim that about half of the
mines in West Virginia have repudi-
ated its terms and are attempting to
operate at reduced wages. On that
basis the miners threaten a general
strike throughout the whole mining
regions of the United States.
1t is pointed out that this necessity
of commerce is thus absolutely con.
trolled and manipulated to maintain
higher prices from the consumers
anu Lne Onlted states Coal Commits
sion recommends to consumers the
use of substitute fuels. But substi.
tute fuels are not found popular, es.
pectally in the East. Bituminous coal
is rejected as dirty and sooty. Oil
gas and electricity are expensive. Be,
sides, the impending strike will in.
volve bitumlnous mines as we'll as
anthracite.
X
This country exports 1928 900 tons
of bituminous coal annually. To
gether with Great Britain we supply
over so per cent of the worlds re-
quirement of coal. The British miners
are also threatening a general strike
August J., so that other countries, be-
sides the two great producers. are
gravely concerned in the outcome OF
the situation. The coal supply is the
key to continued manufacturing oper.
ations, and all productive business is
dependent upon it. If prolonged con.
test arose, shutting down mining in
Britain and the United States, millions
! of working people would be out OF
employment and the most serious labor
crisis might be easiy imaginable. Both
in America and in Great Britain there
is gravest concern, with much con
lecture as to the powers Of govern
ment to take over and operate the
mines.
Copyright, 1925, by Paul v. Collins)