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34 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
monest source of ill will between an employer
and his workmen. Since the establishment of
good-will in the workmen will inevitably be highly
profitable in any commercial or industrial under­
taking, the things which promote good-will should
engage the constant attention of all employers,
and the promotion of good-will should be the best
test of the policies of employers' associations.
I discern, then, three tests which the public may
well apply to the policies of the employers, and
indeed to the policies of trade unions as well:
first, do they take sufficient account of the immense
variety of industries, shops, stores, em­
ployments and occupations? Uniform regulations
or policies, except in regard to fundamental matters
,are not to be expected. Secondly do they
promote personal and public liberty? Thirdly, do
they promote good-will?
It is obvious that many of the policies which
employers have pursued in the past will not stand
these tests. There is great room for improvement
and for the manifestation of a wiser and kindlier
spirit than the past has brought down to us.
Unions or associations among men or women
who follow the same business or calling, whether
employers or employed, are perfectly
NATURAL AND INEVITABLE
under free institutions, where the right of association
is universally conceded and, indeed, pro­
tected by law. The labor union and the employers'
association are both going to last; but
both need to consider and reconsider their policies,
and to make them conform better than they
have ever done to the elementary principles of
public justice and public liberty; so that together
they may promote peace and good-will among men.
The trade union is indeed indispensable in the
great industries which employ thousands of work­
people—men and women. It provides a desirable
facility for the single employer and for the
associations of employers; for it permits them to
confer with, or consult, great bodies of employes
through elected representatives. What we must
regret is. not the existence of the unions, but that
their policies have in several important respects
been misdirected. What we have to hope is that
out of this conflict between trade unions on the
one hand and employers' associations on the other
there will arise two safe, just and wise lines of
co-operative policy—one in the unions, the other
in the associations of employers.
To Investigate Kansas Mine Explosions.
The Kansas legislature has passed a bill author­
izing the appointment of a commission to investigate
and report on the causes of mine explosions
in the Pittsburg coal field in that state. The mov­
ing cause for this action is the fact that there
have been recently a number of explosions of gas—
possibly of dust—in that field. Some loss of life
and considerable damage to property have resulted,
and the question has arisen whether the
Kansas mines are properly safeguarded against
danger from this cause. The commission will ex­
amine into the causes, and propose remedies.
Governor Hoch has appointed the following as
members of the commission: J. A. Orr, state coal
mine inspector; Archie Fulton, inspector of state
mine; Edward Barton, professor of organic chemistry
in the University of Kansas. It will be
noticed that the operators are not represented on
this commission. They have asked to have such
representation, and it is probable that two mem­
bers will be added to the commission at their
request.
THE WORLD'S COAL PRODUCTION.
The following table shows the world's production
of coal and the share supplied by the United
States, at quinquennial periods, from 1870 to 1900,
and annually from 1900 to 1903:
World's pro- —Produced by U. S.—
Year. duction. Total. Per cent.
Million tons. Million tons.
1870 213.1 32.9 15.4
1875 275.4 46.7 17.0
1880 330.3 68.0 20.6
1885 399.8 99.2 24.8
1890 503.3 140.9 28.0
1895 575.1 172.4 30.0
1900 755.4 240.8 31.9
1901 777.4 261.9 33.7
1902 788.9 269.3 33.9
1903 864.1 319.1 36.9
Of this enormous output of 319 million tons by
the United States, practically the entire amount
is consumed in the domestic market, as the exports
of coal have averaged but about 5% million
tons per annum during the last five years, and
have never exceeded more than 3 per cent, of the
total .product of a single year. Imports of coal
into the United States are also small, and in the
last calendar year amounted to but about 1%
million tons, as against 3 1 :': millions in 1903, having
averaged about 1% millions per annum in the
decade from 1894 to 1903.
Colonist Tickets to the West and Southwest
via Pennsylvania Lines.
March 21st, special one-way second-class colonist
tickets will be sold to points in the West and
Southwest Territory via Pennsylvania Lines. For
full particulars regarding fares, time of trains,
etc., call on nearest Ticket Agent of those lines.
J. K. Dillon, District Passenger Agent, 515 Park
Building, Pittsburgh, Pa.