Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-08
OUTLOOK 1SBLACK
IN COAL INDUSTRY
Processing of Fuel Held by
Experts to Be Future of
!, the Business.
BY I. G. ROYLE.


krerlsH pspat,h ~ The stat
NEW YORK. March S.--No matter
vlis1il side is the kettle or which is the
iNot iii the soft coal controversy now
being aired, each calls the other black
and the outlook for the coal industry
shows no signs OF Frightening Capac-
iiy stu exceeds normal demand by al
least SO per cent.
The coal operators of the western
Pennsylvania district will continue TO
operate their mines on non-umlon
basis unless the Government should take
them over ana operate them, Some
operators would not be averSe To this
They feel they would transfer an I'M
possible burden 10 the shoulders OF the
Government. and lei tn" Government
pay them for their trouble
The PENNSYLVANIA operators declare
vehepaertlv that the United Mine Work
ers' Union has been beaten and that
the continuation of the struggle repre-
scnts mereiv a struggle to remain IN
existence. The mine workers are equal
IL emphatic in saying that they have
really won their war and are forcing
tl,ose mine operators who hold out
against them 10 operate at loss.
Operating Mines Confidently.
The PENNSYLVANIA companies. however.
arc operating confidently il irregularly.
and assert the irreSularity is due 10
balancing production and consumption.
This is denied by the miners. But none
denies that prices are at the lowest
level in Is years. II undoubtedly has
cost money 10 put the mines on nom
union basis 1t is costing more money
for eouipmcnt Earnings. according TO
most coal company officials. again Will
show a substantial decrease this year.
The market has grown steadily worse
IN the last few weeks and there Is no
doubt Pennsylvania and the country rs
whole are heavily overstocked with
coal. The larger part Of the present
unnecessary OUTPUT comes from the nom
unicn fields of West Virginia. Ohio and
Kentucky. where the SIS and $3.50 day
schedule is in effect. Gas coal. which
sold a few weeks ago at So a ton. now
issis5 at the Pennsylvania mines. Steam
slack is weaker at 90 cents ton and
gas slack has fallen TO 81 to Sl.2o ton.
The Pittsburgh Coal Co. through
President Morrow. says IL could increase
its output 10 normal al any time ena
that its men are skilled miners. The
Terminal Goa! Co makes similar an
nouncenient adding that production
now is above the average OF several
years ago
There is a rumor. which the mining
companies deny. that both companies
will close operations on April |. Vice
President LeSher of the Pittsburgh Coal
Co. says the company will continue
operations forever" d. NJ Evacs of
the Terminal Co. is equally emphatic.
Consumers Out of Patience.
Falel CONSUMERS are out of patience
with the operators and mine leaders
equally In the last q years strikes
hare cost The oisputan:s and the public
over $4,000 900 600 The users of fuel
are turning elsewhere for their require
nents than TO the coal mines. oil is
playing a large part. So is electrical
energy generated by water power The
fuel experts say the coal industry is
overdevelopeS and ove-manned snc has
inadequate equipment and organlsa-
ten
Expressed in terms Of coal. thu Use |
o! OIL in the last 10 years has increased !
from 100000 tons TO l82, e0o. 600 tons |
and the use OF power from water from /
IS 900 600 tn-is to 81 .000. 900.
The new Co:1owingo Dam on the SuS- !
cuehanna- River will eliminate use of \
10000 tons Of coal a year. and that |
h only one Of dozens OF power develop !
rlents new being built I
According 10 the experts. the future |
OF the coal business lies solely in the
processing of coal and that develop !
ment Is proceeding slowly.