coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

28 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
is demanded. As far as we are concerned, the
strike is over."
Feb. 18 the sub-committee visited the different
coal camps, accompanied by representatives of the
operators, the niiners and the militia.
The camps visited in order were: Forbes, l.ud­
low, Tabasco, Berwind, Hastings, and Delagua. Xo
testimony was taken that day. the trip to the
camps consuming the entire day. The members
of the committee inquired particularly at the dif­
ferent camps concerning the fighting* that bad
taken place during the strike.
OPERATORS HOLD CONVENTION
AND ELECT OFFICERS.
The annual meeting of the Southern Appalachian
Coal Operators' association was held at Knoxville,
Tenn., recently.
In the reports it was shown members of the as­
sociation produced last year 6,700,000 tons of coal—
an increase of over 1,000,000 tons as compared with
1912.
The officers elected are:
President—E. C. Mahan, Knoxville, re-elected.
First Vice President—John I.. Boyd, Knoxville,
re-elected.
Second Vice President—C. S. McManus, Middlesboro,
Ky., re-elected.
Third Vice President—Major E. C. Camp, Knox­
ville.
Eexcutive Board—Colonel James R. Wooldridge,
Wooldridge, Tenn.. re-elected; L. I. Coleman. Knoxville,
re-elected; T. I. Stephenson. Knoxville, re­
elected; Alex Bonneyman, Knoxville. re-elected;
N. B. Perkins, Knoxville; L. W. McComb, Middlesboro,
Ky.; J. H. Keeney, Bryson, Tenn.; H. L. Cory,
Chattanooga.
Executive Board-at-Large—A. H. Wood. Petros:
XV. C. Tucker, Benham. Ky.; H. S. Pless, Knoxville.
CAR SURPLUSAGES CON­
TINUES TO DECREASE.
The report of the American Railway association,
issued Feb. 21. giving* the car surplussages ami
shortages, shows:
Surplussages:
Feb. 14. 1914 199.385
Feb, 1, 1914 211,960
Feb. 15, 1913 52,700
Shortages:
Feb. 14, 1914 2.333
Feb. 1, 1914 2,282
Feb. 15, 1913 30,517
These figures show a net surplus ol 197,052 cars,
as compared with 209,670 cars Feb. 1, and 22,183
a year ago.
RECKLESS MINING MEN
ARE TO BE PUNISHED.
Reckless miners and mine foremen who risk
their own lives and the lives of other men work­
ing in the mines are to be punished to the fullest
extent of the law hereafter. This announcement
has been made by the West Virginia State Min­
ing Department in a circular letter to the various
district inspectors.
Each of the 12 district inspectors of the state
has received the letter from Chief Inspector Henry
containing his specific and unmistakable instruc­
tion that whenever a man is found persisting in
dangerous practices he is to be summarily dealt
with. The letter of Chief Inspector Henry to the
district inspectors is as follows:
"By referring to Section 15 of the Mining Laws
you will notice that the mine foreman is in abso­
lute charge of all underground conditions and
it is his duty to see that the mining laws are
strictly complied with, and, in the future, where
you find it necessary to prosecute miners or mine
laborers for persisting in any dangerous prac­
tices that would create accidents or destruction of
property, you will prosecute the mine foremen
also for permitting any violation of the mining
laws and rules of the companies.
"In your future inspections you should warn all
foremen in regard to the above instructions."
In addition to this letter. Chief Henry has also
written to the operators of the state notifying
them that the inspectors will prosecute mine fore­
men and miners hereafter for violation of the state
laws and the company's rules lor the conduct ot
the men underground.
.Mr. Henry said yesterday that it had been necessary
lately to prosecute miners tor shooting off the
solid and he said that it had been proven in each
instance that the men had done this in the face
of direct and specific instructions from mine fore­
men to the contrary. He also called attention
to the fact that niiners persisted in riding on trips
and that that was a direct violation of Ihe state
mining laws.
He added that if the state officials could not
induce the miners to have regard for their own
lives and the lives of others by showing them
what was right the officials would see that every
nian violating the law was punished. He added
that after a few men had been heavily fined it
would not be necessary afterwards to tell them or
their comrades more than once to do or not to do
a given thing that would insure safety.
The Lindley Coal Co.. Pittsburgh, has filed a notice
of increased capital from $10,000 to $100,000,
with the secretary of internal affairs at Harrisburg,
Pa.