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COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
Vol. XII. PITTSBURGH, PA., MAY 1, 1905. No. 11
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN;
PUBLISHED TWICE A MONTH.
Copyrighted by TIIE COAL TRADE COMPANY, 1904
A. It. HAMILTON, Proprietor and Publisher,
H. J. STBAUB, Managing Editor.
SUBSCRIPTION, - - - - $2.00 A YEAR.
Correspondence and communications upon all matters
relating to coal or coal production are invited.
All communications and remittances to
THK COAL TKADK COMPANY.
926-930 PARK BUILDING, PITTSBURGH, PA.
Long Distance Telephone 250 Grant.
[Entered at the Post Office at Pittsburgh, Pa., as
Second Class Mail Matter.]
obtain employment because their places have been
filled by men whose work is entirely satisfactory.
These are the net results of a strike as unjust, ill-
advised and groundless as ever workingmen per­
mitted themselves to be deluded into taking part
in. Although the struggle has worked injury to
all concerned the cause of right and justice has
prevailed and it is not improbable that the object
lesson taught may be worth the cost of the
triumph.
* * *
After every fatal mine accident the newspapers
brisue with accusations against mine owners and
officials, print comparative statements of the loss
of life in American and English collieries and
bubble over with advice which, they assert, if
followed, would practically eradicate danger from
coal mining. The fact is that the coal mines of
The miners' strike which had been in progress
America are as well safeguarded by law practice
in the Meyersdale region of Pennsylvania since
and mechanical appliances as any in the world;
December 15, 1903, was called off on February 22
but as long as the American miner persists in
by Organizer E. S. McCullough, acting upon in­
shirking safety measures, ignoring his danger and
structions from the national headquarters of the
covertly violating rules and requirements made
United Mine Workers of America. The summary
for his protection—so long will the coal interests
ending of the strike virtually means the passing
be a butt for the gibes of unfair, uninformed and
of the organization in that region, as it has failed
unskillful newspaper writers. Ninety-nine per
to gain a single point for which it contended for
cent, of all mine accidents are due absolutely to
16 months. During the greater portion of that
the carelessness or wilful negligence of the men
time the majority of the mines were operated
nearly, if not altogether, full time, producing all
employed in them.
the coal their orders demanded. The strike followed
the operators' refusal to grant a demand for
With first-class steam coal commanding $4.S0
an increase in wages and a decrease in differen­ per short ton at western French ports, it would
tial, at a time when it was impossible to grant seem that the time is ripe for American producers
such a demand and continue to operate the mines to begin to build up a foreign trade. American
at a profit. Many organizers have been in the
consuls everywhere are pointing out opportunities
field, and the support of the national organization which are being neglected despite the fact that
was given to the strikers, more than $5,000 per each year the production in this country is in­
week having been distributed in the district. It creasing at a rate far beyond that at which the
will be impossible for many of the strikers to demand is advancing.