i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

A serious situation confronts the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Plate Workers.
The treasurer of the organization reports a shortage
of $50,000. A shortage of funds in the treasury
of a labor organization always engenders dissatisfaction
and often much bitterness of feeling,
and there is every reason to believe that it will
be so in this instance. The shortage has occurred
in spite of three or four special levies on the members
of the association. This shows that the expenditure
of the association's funds has been far
beyond the normal income. According to the report
of Secretary-Treasurer Williams the almost
only source of increased expenditures has been
strikes.
* * *
The United - -.ne Workers' Journal announces
that from a paid-up membership of the United
Mine Workers for the fiscal year ending November
30, 1904, of 263.261, the paid-up membership
had grown during the quarter ending March 31,
1905, to 298,379. It is stated that in addition
there were over 32,000 members in good standing,
but who were exonerated because of strikes or
lockouts, making a grand total of 330,379. The
claim is also made that by July 1 the membership
will be 360.000.
* * *
The examinations for mine foremen and fire
bosses in the Ninth bituminous district will be
held at Connellsville, Pa., on May 16, 17 and 18.
The applicants who desire to take the examination
for fire boss only will be required to attend
on May 19. Under a new ruling of the chief
of the bureau of mines, this year, applicants can
be examined only in districts in which they live.
* * *
The efforts being put forth by the United Mine
Workers to organize the miners in the Irwin coal
district led to a quarrel between J. M. Evans, an
organizer, and Joseph Parfitt, one of the oldest
miners of the district, with the result that Evans
was fined by the local authorities.
Governor Pennypacker, of Pennsylvania, has
signed the Garner bill, prohibiting the employment
of children under 14 years of age around the
outside of anthracite coal mines and under 16
years of age in the inside workings of such mines.
* * *
A part of the old Tyrone coke works, near
Broad Ford, Pa., is again to be placed in operation
after an idleness of practically three years.
* * *
Despite the strike, all the mines at Coal Creek,
Tenn.. are in full operation, running almost full
time and working nearly 1,800 men.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 43
H RETAIL TRADE NOTES. H
W. C. Goss has retired from the Goss-Johnson
Bros. Coal & Supply Co., at Omaha, Neb., and the
firm will be known hereafter as the Keystone
Lumber Co.
*
The Citizens Ice & Coal Co. has been formed
at Massillon. O., with a capital of $10,000, by F. R.
Shepley, I. M. Taggart, J. F. Shepley, William
Smith and F. F. Taggart.
The coal rate from the Southeastern Kansas
mines to Belleville, Kas., has been reduced from
$2.12 per ton to $1.76 per ton.
At Omaha, Neb., the Union Fuel Co. has been incorporated,
with a capital stock of $50,000, to do
a retail business.
*
H. F. Mason & Co. have been succeeded in the
fuel business at Los Angeles, Cal., by F. D. Cartzdainer.
*
Quackenbush & Co., of Holton, Kas., have sold
their coal business to the Elkhart Lumber & Coal
Co.
*
J. M. Curtis has succeeded to the coal business
of the old firm of Warner & Curtis, at Olathe, Kas.
*
The Wichita Coal Co. has been incorporated at
Wichita, Kas., with a capital stock of $10,000.
*
John Goodwine has sold his coal business at
Wichita, Kas., to Kopplin & Anderson.
M. F. Adams has sold his coal business at Fort
Collins. Colo., to Tubbs & Trampton.
*
The Central Anthracite Coal Co. has disposed
of its business at Spadra, Ark.
*
The West Coast Feed & Fuel Co. has been incorporated
at Los Angeles, Cal.
An order was issued on April 30 by Chief Inspector
James Roderick, of the Pennsylvania bureau
of mines, directing that a test be immediately
made of every mine cage in the anthracite region,
with a view of ascertaining whether the safety
appliances are in working order. The mine inspectors
are under orders to insist that the inspection
be carried out in their presence and in a
thorough manner, and according to the methods
that they demand. Each inspector was also instructed
to examine the cable at the various shafts
and will condemn those with broken strands.