Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-02
Cod Industry CIings
10 Hope in Spite Of
Another Skinny Year
81 ihs Assoeiatsd prs,s

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Nations coal industry, existing
largely on promises Of q profita-
BILE future, felt the sting Of new
economic losses last year-the
worst production period since
World War II.
The industry Is confident to .
man that the years ahead win
bring peak production and big
profits. But they don't expect
the golden era to open before
I957--fnaybe not before 1862.
Meanwhile, things are going to
be tough for the mine owners
and their employees, Last year
was indicative Of that. Produc-
ton skidded for the third con-
secutive year. Profltsif any
were skimpy.
The statistics tell much Of the
story:
In 1947-coal's record year
the Nations mines produced 63i
million tons. Last year total
production was estimated ct 3S5
million tons about II per cent
below 1858.
Figures Are Cited.
In the record year Of I947,
there were 419, 900 men employed
in about 5000 mines in the Ma
ton. Last year an estimated
225, 900 worked many part time
lin about 5000 coal mines.
The average price dropped
from $4.99 q ton in 1948 to $4.91
q ton in 1858. Figures for 1854
viii not be available for several
months but another drop is ex-
pected.
Much Of the decline In price
can be attributed to the huge
mechanization program which
began In the late I940s. Most
big mines now are equipped with
which has enabled
miners to increase their average
daily output from 6.42 tons in
l947 to better than 8 tons this
year.
Some producers believe 1854
was the bottom Of the dip. They
expect this year to bring an in
crease hi production nothing to
set q trend but certainly q bet
ter year than the one now end
Ing
Backing up the optimism are
rises In production Of steel and
electricity both big coal Gus
TONER'S.
Stockpiles Depleted.
Another thing to be counted
IS that producers dipped into
heir stockpiles last year for
between S and 10 million tons
if coal. II the Nations coal
consumption holds Just where
t is that means the miners win
nave to dig between 5 and 10
million more tons this year.
But ENTHUSIASTICALLY the
smaller producersneed more
han Just q leveling OF Of the
iagging demand.
An estimated 1000 mines
:losed down last year. A few,
If course, had been worked out,
,ut most were victims Of hard
lines.
John 1. Lewis. president Of
he United Mines Workers Of
has indicated he Is
FULLY aware Of the industry's
plight. It has been two years
since he made any contract de-
alands. although he was free to
% 90 last September Q year ago.
6erne Of the coal operators
have discussed turning the tables
On Mr.. Lewis by asking him to
modify labor costs. There has
been no formal action on this.
Government Aid Sought.
The big industry isn't standing
~ in the crisis. Experts long
have been busy diagnosing the
trouble and leaders Of the big
producers have been pounding
in the Governments door.
OF course. the big trouble in
The coal industry Is its loss of
customers In the last decade. 4
Railroads, for instance, are
argely dieselized. Domestic heat
ING now Ii using q large percent
age Of gas and oil.
But q modern intruder, which
coalmen insist should be cnrbed,
has been growing bigger and
bigger along the Eastern Sea-
BOARD. That Is the imported re-
sidual oil. which because it is
cheap. is capturing big hunks Of
he Eastern electric-making BUSH
neSS ~ 6.