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must thereupon cease until a new contract is
negotiated; and be it, therefore, further
Resolved, that the coal operators of the state
are prepared to negotiate with the miners a new
competitive scale, based upon the provisions of
said law.
Following the adoption of these resolutions
the coal operators of the state posted notices at
their mines as follows: "NOTICE—The coal miners
of Illinois have secured tne enactment of a law
requiring the employment of shot firers and examiners,
which law prevents the miners from
carrying out the terms of the contracts existing
between their organization and the Illinois Coal
Operators' Association from and after July 1, 1905,
when it takes effect, thus cancelling said contracts
on that date. This law adds to the cost of producing
coal, contrary to the contracts, and throws
the various districts of the state out of their
proper competitive relationship, and the state as
a whole out of its proper relation to the other
states. The provisions of this law will be complied
with in good faith by the coal operators of
the state, but the only contracts existing between
the miners and operators of the state being ended
by the miners, the mining of eoal in tnis mine will
cease on and after July 1, 1905, until a new contract
has been entered into between the Illinois
Coal Operators' Association and the United Mine
Workers of America."
OHIO MINING REPORT.
Chief Inspector of Mines George Harrison of
Ohio, in his annual report for 1904, recommends
the appointment of a commission to revise the
mining laws of the state. At the time of the
passage of the present mining laws the greater
portion of coal produced was mined by pick, while
at the present time 67.3 per cent, of it is mined
by the use of machinery, which has increased the
number of fatal accidents to an alarming degree,
while there is no statute governing this method
of coal mining, the word "electricity" or "mining
machine" not being found in the mining laws.
Special mention is also made of the dangers of
mine fires which are coming to be of frequent
occurrence, and also to the connecting of large
mining properties which is a coming source of
danger to life and property.
The coal trade for 1904, while showing a slight
increase in tonnage, was not one of marked prosperity,
a strike on the great lakes, car shortage,
long continued drouth during the latter part of
the year and other trade conditions prevailing
caused serious inactivity in the industry.
The total number of tons of coal mined was
24,583,815, and 45,834 miners were employed. The
tonnage increased only 10,549, while the number
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 3?
of miners increased 4,438. The average yearly
tonnage per man in 1903 was 593; in 1904, it was
only 536.
The fatal accidents decreased six, 118 being reported:
101 new mines opened up; 201 mining
machines added to the list already in operation
in the state; 257 permanent improvements were
made, and 1,789 inspections made.
A decrease of from almost 3,000,000 to 249,189
tons of lump coal is noted since 1902. There was
an increase in the output in fine coal, which in
1902 was over 300,000. In 1903 it increased over
The Moon Run Mine of The Pittsburgh Coal Co.
500.000 and in 1904 an increase of over 200,000 is
noted, which is due to the universal system in
practice in some of the districts of the state, commonly
known as "blasting coal off the solid."
Athens county ranked first in point of production
with over 3,500,000 tons; Belmont and Guernsey,
over 3,000,000; Jefferson and Perry nearly
2,500,000; Hocking and Jackson almost 2,000,000.
and Tuscarawas over 1,000,000.
The Seaconnet Coal Co. has been incorporated at
Portland, Me., to deal in fuel of all kinds. The
capital is $150,000. F. J. Laughlin. of Portland.
is president.