coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

Normal business in the steel and coke trade was
predicted by James A. Farrell, president of the
United States Steel Corporation, in an address delivered
at the annual banquet given to Thomas
Lynch, president of the H. C. Frick Coke Co., to
the executives, heads of departments and superintendents
of the coke company, at the Greensburg
Country club recently. Mr. Farrell's presence
was a surprise to many who were gathered for the
annual affair, and his optimistic outlook of the
business situation was good news to the 130 present.
Validity of the Pennsylvania law requiring each
mine operator to leave a pillar of coal, of such
width that together with the pillar left by the
adjoining owner it would be a sufficient barrier
lor the safety of the mines, was argued before
the U. S. Supreme Court Jan. 15. John C. Johnson
of Philadelphia contended on behalf of the coal
companies that the law was crude, uncertain, unjust
and unconstitutional. Attorney General Bell
defended it.
The Tennessee Coal. Iron & Railroad Co., in accordance
with the terms of its general gold mortgage,
has set aside $71,000 to be invested in the
purchase of bonds for the sinking fund. The
Union Trust Co., of New York, trustee under the
mortgage, received sealed proposals for the sale
of these bonds to the amount of the sum stated
at its office, 80 Broadway, up to noon January 22,
when the lowest offer was accepted.
The body of Edward Joyce, who disappeared
from his home in Carnegie, Pa., five years ago,
was found during the fortnight in an abandoned
entry in the Camp Hill mine of the Carnegie Coal
Co., located just w-est of Carnegie. Joyce was
mine boss at the Camp Hill workings and was
familiar with every part of the mine. He evidently
had wandered into the abandoned entry
and was overcome by gas.
Preliminary tests of Alaskan coal from the Bering
river district have been discouraging to officials
who hoped they might develop a new fuel supply
for the navy. Rear Admiral Griffin has reported
to the House naval affairs committee that the Bering
river coal tested so far has fallen so far under
expectations in practical use as to be of no value.
The personnel of the Mine Inspectors' Examining
board of Schuylkill county, Pa., for 1914 is: John
H. Pollard, of Mahanoy City; George Reiser, of
Minersville; William A. Mengle, of Shamokin;
David J. Davis, of Pottsville, and Pilot Orme, of
St. Clair.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 47
The annual report of the Colorado Fuel & Iron
Co. shows gross earnings of $24,415,837 from operations
during the year ending June 30, 1913.
Operating expenses were $20,695,654. Deducting
operating expenses and other items, exclusive of
fixed charges, the net operating income was $4,-
375,985, a decrease of $78,079 from the record of
1912. The surplus, with all fixed charges deducted,
amounted to $1,727,192.
The Pennsylvania railroad has taken over the
eight-mile extension of the Windber, Pa„ branch
to Cairnbrook from Mc-Menamin & Sims, the contractors.
The first shipment of coal was made
during the fortnight, comprising two cars from the
Loyalhanna Coal & Coke Co. new operation.
George M. Carpenter, chief fuel inspector of the
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis railroad, has
renewed its contract with the Tennessee Coal, Iron
& Railroad Co. for its coal supplies during this
year, 200,000 tons of coal to be taken from the
Whitewell mines to Tennessee.
The Erie Coal Co. has announced it will abandon
the mine at Eriton, where labor difficulties
have existed for some time. The pumps will be
taken out, the operation dismantled and the field
abandoned.
State Coal Mine Inspector J. B, McDermott of
Montana reports that the coal production of that
state in the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 1913, was
3,365,172 tons, a gain of 221,933 tons over 1912.
A receiver has been named for the Marion Coal
Co., of Scranton, Pa., at the instigation of President
W. P. Boland of the company. William A.
Tipsworthy of Montrose, Pa., is the receiver.
The Cross Mountain Coal Co., of Knoxville,
Tenn., will take over and operate the mine of that
name at Briceville. Tenn., which was the scene
of an explosion about two years ago.
The Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory, at
Huntingdon, Pa., will ask for bids on July 1, 1914,
for furnishing the reformatory with coal for a
period of one year from July 15, 1914.
Chattanooga, Tenn., advices are that an effort
is to be made to reorganize the Dayton Coal &
Iron Co. The receivership is to be ended and
the company put on its feet.
The coal output of Utah in 1913 is reported at
3,289,255 tons by State Coal Mine Inspector J. E.
Pettit. This is an increase of 200,899 tons as
compared with 1912.
The Tennessee River Coal Co. is preparing to
reopen its mines near Chattanooga, Tenn., which
have been closed down for more than a year.