coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

18 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
The coke manufacturers for the initial week of centage of completion is given as of Dec. 1, 1913,
the year reported a considerable increase in pro­
the figures being obtained through the courtesy
of Col. Francis Sbunk, C. E. U. S. Army, who is
duction over the final one of 1913 and this has
in charge of the improvements in the Pittsburgh
the appearance of an upward trend in tbe trade. district. These figures while they show a con­
The merchant manufacturers are determined in siderable advance, also point out clearly that it
their stand for a reasonable price for their coke, will be at least a decade before the canalization
hence they are maintaining a stiff front for all
of the river is completed, unless the Congress
contractual tonnage, and a still stiffer one for
spot coke. The number of ovens in blast do not
show much of an increase, thus keeping tonnage
within the bounds of demand, which means no
coke going into stock piles. Tbe outlook is for
better business as the year giows older. Prices
are held firm at $2.5(1 to $2.75 for furnace coke
and $3.50 to $3.75 for foundry coke.
The anthracite trade suffered along with the
other branches by the mild weather at the open­
ing of the year, but the cold snap is expected to
boost the demand, as the domestic consumption
will show an increase with the lower tempera­
tures. In spite of the petty strikes, which con­
tinue, mines are making fairly good time, but
several weeks probably will elapse eie there is a
decided jump in tonnage figures. Prices show no
change.
* # *
DURING THE FORTNIGHT ONE OI THE MOST IMPORT­
ANT DECISIONS IN REGARD TO LABOR has been made by
the United States courts. This is in regard to
the famous Danbury Hatters case, so-called. The
court rules that labor organizations are amenable
to the Sherman law, and that they must abide by
its decisions. The court at the same time renders
a second verdict in favor of the employer, Loewe,
and against the Hatters organization. In line
with this decision is the announcement made by
the Central Pennsylvania coal operators that they
possibly may enter suits against the United Mine
Workers of that district for damages caused by
the hundred or more strikes that have occurred
during the contractual year just about to end.
Conferences are being held over this question, and
if the operators should decide finally to begin
legal proceedings, the outcome will he watched
with interest by the coal trade in particular and
by other industries as well.
* * *
OHIO RIVER IMPROVEMENTS ARE OF INTEREST TO
COAL OPERATORS of West Virginia and Western
Pennsylvania and of Ohio. The stains ot these
improvements is a subject concerning which there
is considerable inquiry. The latest publication
of the percentage of completion was made in 1911.
In this issue of Tin; COAL TRADE BULLETIN the per­
shall change its method of piecemeal appropriation'.
* * *
RILES HAVE BEEN PROMULGATED by the Pennsylvania
department of mines with the object in view
of reducing the number of accidents in the anthracite
mines of the state. The full text of these
rules appear in this issue of THE COAL TRADE BUL­
LETIN, and they will be found interesting in the
extreme. But all the rules in tbe world wili
avail but little until the liability of the human
machine to err is overcome, and this is unlikely
to be the case so long as man exists.
THE OHIO MIXING COMMISSION HAS MADE ITS RE­
PORT to Gov. COX, and has prepared bills as remedial
measures, as it sees them, to be presented
to the special session of the state legislature. The
report is entirely unsatisfactory to the operators
and they propose fighting the bills as far as possible.
Because of the interest that attaches to
this report and the proposed changes in the laws,
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN prints the bills in full
in this issue, thus giving those interested an opportunity
to study them ere the legislature meets.
• LONG WALL BRUSHINGS •
The faithful followers of King Coal are packing
their baggage and soon the caravans will move
toward that Mecca of the coal man—tne Interstate
wage conference—if they have one.
* * *
Labor organizations are amenable to the Sherman
laws, says the United States court. And
right away suits for damages loom over the heads
of the officers.
Usually the coal man anathematizes the Latin
and Greek Christmases falling some days apart,
but this year it was one piece of luck that came
bis way.
* * *
The weather man sure must have looked up
that old saw, "As the days lengthen, the cold
strengthens."
* * *
Almost 200,000 idle cars in the United States
doesn't look as if the trade need hide a few in its
pockets to secure a sufficient supply at mines.