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38 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
ness, but this year the sales seem to be somewhat
more numerous than usual. Large buyers, however,
are holding back in anticipation of the 50c.
discount, which will go into force on the first of
April, and besides this, no one would think of
buying large stocks of coal just now, to carry him
along. Prices are practically unchanged.
Hull, Blyth & Co., of London and Cardiff, report
that the market remains very quiet with a weaker
tone, and with quotations as follows: Best Welsh
steam coal, $3.54; seconds, $3.36; thirds, $3.18;
dry coals, $3.36; best Monmouthshire, $3.18; seconds,
$3.06; best small steam coal, $2.10; seconds.
$1.98; other sorts, $1.92.
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28).
$33,971.25 of whicli $14,129.75 had been contributed
by the company. Commenting on these figures
in the last annual report to stockholders,
President Robbins said: "These figures, however,
cannot give an adequate idea of the great good
that has been accomplished by the employes' association.
It has not only brough relief to hundreds
of employes' families in need of help, but it has
inculcated in many otners habits of thrift which
lead to improved conditions and instill hope for
the future. A fine spirit of confidence in the
company and loyalty to its interests have been
awakened, the value of which cannot be measured;
they must, however, be great factors in the future
success of the company. It will be the policy of
the management to foster and encourage the work
of the association in every practical way."
At its inception the relief plan of the association
was opposed by the labor leaders for the
obvious reason that they preferred, if large sums
of money were to be raised in the mining commutes,
they would like to have the disbursement
of it in their own hands. The opposition of these
leaders took the extreme form of a convention
at Pittsburgh early in the year 1903 at which
practically all of the organized mines in the Pittsburgh
district were represented. There were
strong speeches made against the Pittsburgh Coal
Co.'s plan and strong statements were made about
very much better plans for the distribution of
relief which might be put into operation, etc., but
nothing came of this opposition—we went right
along working out our plan until such time as
somebody should come forward with a better one,
which has not happened up to this time, and the
overwhelming endorsement of our plan by the
men themselves has swept away entirely the opposition
of the leaders; in fact, they now heartily
commend the work of the Pittsburgh Coal Co.
Employes' Association and I believe the attitude
of organized labor, with respect to our welfare
work, is correctly reflected in an editorial published
in a recent issue of the United Mine Workers'
Journal, as follows:
"In another column will be found the report of
Pittsburgh Coal Co.'s Employes' Association.
It, in connection with the Death and Accident
Association, forms two very worthy objects and
which ought to be widely followed. The latter
shows that from April 1, 1902, until October
31, 1904, nearly $165,000 has been paid to disabled
employes or in death benefits to their
families. The other shows that 1,377 employes
of the conipany own 11,729 shares of the company's
stock. The average cost of this stock
per share was $74.80. The earnings of these
shares have been $116,967.08, of which there is
an undivided balance of $39,874.39. These shares
have paid back sums ranging from $31 to four
cents, according to the length of time they have
been held. These figures tell clearer than words
what Messrs. Robbins, Hornberger and Jones are
doing to relieve the 'labor question' of its rancor
and turmoil.
"There is a great corporation, the largest of its
kind in the world, officered by men, who in the
multitude of perplexing duties, have hearts and
minds for the men who toil for them. The sordid
side of wealth has not appealed to them. The
merciless struggle for dividends has not deadened
their manhood or their sense of equity and justice.
"Then behold the Death and Accident Association,
in all of its beneficence, its mercies and
goodness. The 19.250 men who contribute to
its funds have an anchor against the surges of
trouble's seas. Hurt in the mines? You are not
left to the mercies of charity. You do not have
to grovel and cringe for necessaries or medical
attention. Why? Because the Pittsburgh Coal
Co. inaugurated a system, backed it with its dollars,
officered it with men of commanding ability,
and helped you erect a barrier against want and
woe in the time of death or disaster. It is such
things as these that rob the anarchists and the
Parryites of their power to poison the minds of
workingmen against their employers and cause
them to stand as a bulwark against the assaults
of the demagogues.
"It also teaches practically, how by thrift and
industry the workingmen themselves may easily
work for themselves instead of others rather than
by chasing rainbows and chimeras. It is a
wholesome object lesson against the ravings and
industrial insanities far too prevalent at present."
The Maine Central railroad sheds at Waterville.
Me., containing 1,000 tons of coal, were burned
on March 6, causing a loss of about $10,000.