San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-09

< anu UEulStu ITcc Darn.
settled as between owners and miners
only. The commissioners of the
court of inquiry state in their report
that their opinion is "the present
crisis is, TO a large extent, the crea-
ton Of neither party to the dispute.
1t has arisen, in the main, from with
out and is due 10 causes not within
the control of either party. They are
causes which may continue to operate
for considerable time to come"
Whatever the cause, the profits
have vanished and, in this country at
any rate, the coal miners are under
paid. The wages paid them are lower,
on an average IN purchasing power,
than the pre-war rates. On the other
hand, / also agree that ii is not the
case that the coal owners are unfair
ly withholding from the workers fair
share of the realized profits of the in
dustry. The fact is that there is very
little profit to divide and what there
is is diminishing month by month. In
January 1924 there were in Great
Britain AIS collieries working at a
profit and 162 working at loss. The
latest available figures show that in
March this year, POI collieries were
showing a profit and 800 loss. The
eastern area, which was the one pros
porous part of the industry, in Jan
uary made a profit of 635,000 pounds
sterling; in February, a profit of
$4,000 pounds sterling; in March, a
profit of 511 900 pounds sterling; in
April the profit was reduced to u.s.
600 pounds sterling and in May, there
was loss of $1,000 pounds sterling.
June and July were progressively
worse. The last figures show, inciden-
tally, that since the beginning OF
1924, % collieries have been closed. In
May last year there were 3S,OOC
miners out of work. At this moment
there are 100000 receiving unemploy-
meRt pay and 500 collieries have closed
down. The industry, it is quite plain.
is on the verge of bankruptcy and
the solution of the problem is not
reached because the coal strikes has
been averted, or rather STAYED off tenn
porarily at the eleventh hour. When
we realize that the industry is one
which affords livelihood TO one tenth
of our people, the present position be-
comes even more alarming.
THE COAL SITUATION.
Is there remedy or must the
British miner continue to work at
pinehed wages TO keep the pits from
closing down? The commissioner of
inquiry report that there is consider
able room for improving the efficiency
Of the industry as a whole and, in this
way, affording some aid TO its eco
nomic position. Further collective
action on the part of colleries for
example, would enable the facilities
and resources 10 be used in common TO
greater advantage and would promote
economical working" There is no
doubt that the organization Of the coal
fields is unsatisfactory. 1t is an old
industry which had grown up in ram
shackle fashion before 1914. II lack
ed the stimulus Of effective cOmpeti-
ton. The position Of Britain, in this
respect, has been unique. French
coal has not been sufficient for
French needs. Belgian coal is limit
ed in quantity and inferior in quality.
German coal is far removed from the
seabOard, American coal for a variety
Of reasons. does not compete with ours,
one reason being that British ships
could export coal more cheaply be
cause Britain, being more dependent
upon foreign produce than America,
her ships were assured Of q return
cargo. The freights for oversee trans
port Of British coal were thus halved.
Moreover, British coal is within easy
reach Of sea export, the coal being al
most on the seabOard, whereas Ameri-
can coal is inland and difficult Of &C
cess 10 the sea. The considerations j
have mentioned account for the fact
| that, although American coal is cheap
er at the pits mouth, it is so often
deareg IN foreign ports. American
wages, incidentally, are considerably
higher than ours but American coal is
more get-at-able. The seams are thick
er and lend themselves more readily
/ for treatment BY machinery. Britain
| thus dominated the world as regards
the export Of coal, before the war and
| this lack Of competition has been cT-
q At7i aAAlAEAE LeA 4hl AA' HlAlfANANg VI lAF
| industry, as the British coal owners
were not obliged 10 exert themselves
TO produce economically in order 10
save their trade.
TUMBLING TOWARD RUN.
1t is sufficient to compare the fig
ures Of the British coal export before
and after the war 10 realize the rapid
deterioration Of the industry and the
way in which il is tumbling toward
ruin. Before the war, in 1913, the
amount Of coal exported was 73.4 mil
lions Of tons. Last year il was jg.2
million tons. For the first half Of this
year export has been at the rate Of
1914 million tons, and during the
month Of June ~ the rate Of 49,
million tons. During the occupation Of
the Ruhr we were in better position.
since there was mere demand for Brit.
= isl coal. Exports in 1923 rose 10 the
Z high figure Of IS million tons. In.
% fortunately for the relations between
the owners and the miners, never OF
the very best and often very bitter
! when the indugtry fell upon bad
, times the first and only resource that
occurred to the. owners was an attack
upon wages and an attempt 20 econo.
mizq there This hammered f,rsy, h,f..r.