Evening star., 1934-04-08
Improvement in
Soft Coal Mining
BY HARDEN COLFAX.


heated debate over wage agreements
and so-called "interdistrict differen-
tials" is the gratifying fact that the
soft coal industry of the United States
is already realizing substantial bene-
fits from the adoption of its code
under N. r. A.
The agreement as to wages and
hours between the operators and the
United Mine Workers in the Appala-
chan region, which includes Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, Virginia, West Viz
ginia, Northern Tennessee, Eastern
Kentucky and Ohio, came to an end
April 1 and an adjustment under the
code has now been practically reached
for another year in accordance with
which more than 100000 soft coal
miners in these regions will work
seven hours a day and 35 hours a
week and earn increased basic daily
wages in both the Northern and
Southern fields.
In Washington, N. R. A. officials
who have been following the coal code
and leading mine operators in the soft
coal industry we're willing to state
that, in spite of the many differences
of opinion under the code, the soft
coal industry at least has been able
to effect some measure Of price stabili-
Zation. While costs have been some
what increased, savings have been
realized, through the elimination Of
unfair and unwholesome trade prac-
tices, which have helped to take care
Of the increased cost Of production
under the code.
X X
One operator. with mines which for
merly produced approximately 100000
tons q month, was just barely able to
meet his pay rolls. Now, with a pro-
duction of only some 10000 tons
month, he declares he is already max
ing a small profit.
Last Summer it was quite evident
that most Of the soft coal industry
was opposed to the code. Today the
operators admit that the code has
been good thing for them. For
years the business Of digging soft coal
from the earth was on the verge of
a breakdown, chiefly due to unwise
methods of operating, unfair COM
petitive practices, the rivalry Of other
fuels such as oil, coke, gas and hydro
electric power.
Wage scales and hours of labor
differed widely as between districts
before the advent of the code. and
still do so to some extent. One re-
naming problem now is to provide
method of arriving at fair and
equitable wage differentials between
the districts. Minimum prices have
also differed and these, too, have had
to be adjusted.
With regard to price fixing, the
industry frankly states that there still
hangs over it the menace from the
competitive energy sources, particu-
larly fuel oil, natural gas and hydro
electric power. Increases in the price
of oil during recent weeks are hailed
by the soft coal people as likely to
bring them some relief.
X X X X
Some bituminous coal operators say
that, in 1880, natural gas consumption
was equivalent to 37.000,000 tons OF
coal, fuel oil to 100000 tons and
hydro-electric power to the same
amount. This, it is estimated, In one
year meant loss of work to more than
200, 1000 miners as well as to large
number of railroad men and others
engaged in coal distribution.
There are 100000 workmen employed
in the production of bituminous coal
in the United States, with 1928, 900, 900
tons coming out of the mines in 1882.
At present at least 90 per cent of the
industry is reported to be unionized.
Behind the immediate problems of
wages and over-capacity,, which had
to be faced as result of the necessity
of renewing the wage agreement.
economists are beginning to discern
the lines Of the larger issue-that Of
redistribution of our mining popula-
ton, particularly in the coal fields.
The code for anthracite production
is still to be concluded. However, with