Evening star., 1928-03-05
MINE
PROBLEM STUDIED
100000 More Workers Than
Jobs Is Situation Facing
Soft Coal Industry.

Special Dispatch TO Tho Star.
NEW YORK, March 5.--Whatever the
Senate committee investigating the coal
strike may report, Congress, the mine
operators and the miners still will face
the problem of fitting approximately
100000 men with jobs for whom there
are no jobs in the coal industry. That
Is tho situation today, according to fuel
experts in closest touch with the
bituminous coal situation In the United
States They feel that the situation Is
not improving and that 1t may shortly
become even more acute.
IN Illinois the SiX-month truce be-
tween the operators and the miners.
which was arrived at on basis of the
extension Of the Jacksonville agreement.
will expire March 81. There Is little
chance of a settlement prior to that
time or Immediately thereafter. The
operators assert that this experimental
return to the old wage scale. involving
a $3.50 basic day. has shown that the
Illinois union mines are unable to COM
pete successfully with the non-union
field. Since the State laws Of Illinois
formally recognize the United Mine
Workers. there can be no question OF
opening the mines with Strikebreakers
or non union laborers. There is every
indication that the mines of Illinois
will close OF April /.
Iowa Mines Closed.
The mines of Iowa are, many OF them,
shut down, and the strike still Is
progressing in Colorado, although some
OF the properties are being operated
with non-union workers.
In Ohio it Is unofI!cially estimated
that not more than IS per cent of the
mines are operating. These are all on
an open shop basis. The mines of east
ern Ohio have apparently benefited
from the Interstate Commerce Commits
Sion's refusal to sanction a 20-cent-a-
ton reduction Of freight rates on btu
minous coal from the mines south of the
Ohio River to Lake Erie ports. Several
months ago the rail rates on Ohio coal
were reduced 90 cents ton. The
Southern roads met the decrease. but
the decision of the Interstate Commerce
Commission against the Southern roads
is looked upon as final.
This difference In freight rates is ex-
pected to stimulate shipments of Ohio
and Pennsylvania coal up the lakes
through the Lake Erie ports, but the
labor difficulties at the mines are likely
to cut Ohio and Pennsylvania produc-
ton.
In addition. the shipment of West
Virginia coal to the Northwest during
the strike. has established in that terri
tory a sharp and unmistakable demand
for the West Virginia product in pref
erence to the Ohio coal
viii Continue Policy.
AS for the Pennsylvania mines unless
the Government decides TO take over
the properties and operate them, the
coal companies will continue TO operate
on Il basis similar TO that now in force.
That is, with non-union workers. at a
scale under that named in the Jackson
vile agreement. The mines are opcrat-
ing on an irregular schedule Prices are
at their lowest level in more than IS
years.
Whatever may be done. the fact re-
mains that there are far too many
mines now In operation. according to
every expert in the industry. and that
there are 20o000 more men engaged in
coal mining than are necessary. Stocks
on hand today are still in excess OF So
100000 tons. Consumption is proceed
ing at the rate Of about 9,500,000 tons
weekly. The non-uni0n mines, II Is
claimed, can supply that amount.