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and daily papers Havre has been mentioned as a
port where one of the proposed depots might be
established. Whether or not the conditions are
favorable at this time for the exportation of
American coal to the French Channel ports depends
upon the possibility of American miners
and shippers meeting the competition of British
and German coal, as in these localities but little
French coal is consumed. It is mainly a question
of price, as the good qualities of the American
product are appreciated by the French consumer.
The imports of coal into France in 1903 were
the smallest for several years—12,602,000 metric
tons, against 13,179,000 tons and 13,775,000 tons in
1902 and 1901. The reasons assigned for the falling
off of the receipts were decreased consumption,
owing to the unfavorable condition of the
metallurgical and other industries, the stagnation
existing in the freight trade, and increased
production of the French mines, amounting to
nearly 5,000.000 tons more than in 1902. The imports
were as follows: Great Britain, 7,139,200
tons; Belgium, 4,011,000 tons; Germany, 1,071,500
tons, and the United States, 3.680 tons.
According to the provisional statistics recently
published by the minister of public works, the
production of anthracite and bituminous coal in
France during the first six months of 1904 was
16,742,500 metric tons, against 16,997,608 tons during
the same period of 1903, a decrease of 255,108
tons.
OUTPUT OF THE PITTSBURGH
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 1'7
DISTRICT TO BE INCREASED.
Preparations are being made by the larger coal
mining companies for much greater production at
all mines in the Pittsburgh district during the
new year and also for the addition of more
miners and equipment to make this possible. The
recent large order for cars, given by the Pittsburgh
Coal Co., has been followed by the announcement
by the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. that at nearly all
of its mines more men are to be employed. To
provide for these new houses are building at the
mining towns of the company. At Burgettstown,
contractors are putting up 48 single houses for the
miners, all of modern type. At Canonsburg the
company is building 10 double houses, fitted for
20 families of miners, and it is probable that 20
more such structures will be put up before spring
at that point. The Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co. will
probably add 250 more miners in January. The
Ellsworth Coal Co. is making similar preparations
for greater tonnage and will have more cars for
handling it.
MARKED IMPROVEMENT SHOWN
IN OHIO MINING CONDITIONS.
Labor Commissioner Ratchford of Ohio, has
issued the following figures on coal mining investigations:
Number of mines reporting, 575, increase,
42; number employed ( monthly average)36,-
460, increase 5,880; number superintendents, salesmen
and office help I monthly average) 901. increase
168; capital invested in grounds, buildings
and machinery, $32,054,018, increase $9,686,445;
value of products, $28,135,893.33, increase $297,-
956.44; amount paid in wages. $19,113,466.75, increase
$3,345,829.92; amount paid superintendents.
salesmen and office help, $900,286.92, increase $205,-
780.56; average number of days worked per employe,
191; average daily wages per employe, $2.60;
increase 0.36; average yearly earnings per employe,
$496.60, increase $55.32; average liours of
uaily labor per employe, 8 1-7; number affected by
advance in wages. 26.950; average per cent, advance
in wages, 12.57.
HIGHER WAGES OFFERED BY
THE MORRIS RUN COMPANY.
The operators of the mines at Morris Run. Pa.,
in the Clearfield district, where a strike has been
on since last spring, have made public the following
notice, signed by the Morris Run Coal Mining
Co., John Magee, president:
"Improved market conditions warrant this company
in attempting to pay higher wages. It will
therefore pay 82 cents per gross ton for mining
so long as business will permit, with corresponding
rates for other labor from March, 1904. Applications
for work will be considered with reference
to families that have been afflicted with sickness,
preference given to those in need."
Labor Shortage In The Coke Region.
The coal and coke interests of Fayette and Westmoreland
counties, and Southwestern Pennsylvania
generally, are suffering from a serious shortage
of labor. Nearly all the plants in the district
could employ many additional men. Some works
are running only one-third to one-half their capacity
because of the fact that they do not have
enough coal miners and coke drawers to pi.perly
man the plants. Many of the companies are advertising
for men and the H. C. Frick Coke Co. has
been compelled to bring labor into the region to
start many of its plants. Steady work is promised
at the regular rates for mining, coke drawing and
other labor. The standard scale enables miners
to earn from $3 to $4 per day and the coke drawers
from $2.75 to $3 per day.