coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

20 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
night, the anthracite field is going along in an
even manner that has been noticeable since the
cessation of the troublesome button strikes.
THAT A MAN MAY HOLD STOCK IN MOKE THAN ONE
CORPORATION, or that the same group of men may
own one or more corporations and not violate the
law of the land is the effect of a decision by the
United States court in New Jersey. And the de­
cision has on its side not only reason but com­
mon sense. .lust why the same group of men did
not dare invest their money in two corporations
is one of tlie mysteries that the "Trust busting"
advocates thus far have failed to clear up. Their
contention that it resulted in the restraint of
trade and stifled competition didn't ring true in
every sense of the word, and the decision just ren­
dered seems to bear out that fact. One thing is
sure, the decision will give some assurance to
investors that they need not tear prosecution
every time they desire putting tbeir money into
some legitimate enterprise.
. . .
CHIEF HENRY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT
OF MINES does not hesitate to adopt the initiative
of othei persons when that initiative makes for
greater safety in the mines of the state, as is evi­
denced by the sending out to mine owners of the
state a letter forwarded him by one operating
firm advising him of the appointment of a safety
inspector and outlining his duties. .Mr. Henry
recommends that other owners take similar steps,
and his stand in the matter is to lie commended.
* . .
PENNSYLVANIA'S BITUMINOUS PRODUCTION FOI; THE
YEAR 1913 appears on another page of this issue,
and it will be found of value to all interested in
the coal trade. The table shows but little
change in the rank of the leading producing com­
panies, although a number of instances occur
where new companies, appearing for the first time
in the table show a decidedly large tonnage. In­
cluded in the list of smaller companies whose ton­
nage could not be given because of lack of space,
are some whose tonnage in previous years was
larger, but which, during the year just passed,
dropped off for one reason or another. The ton­
nages are taken from tbe records of the state offi­
cials and will be found, we believe, correct in
every way.
PERSONS INTERESTED I.\ THE' COAI. INDUSTRY can
find subject for thought in the articles that appear
in this issue relative to the Canadian Northwest.
British Columbia and Alberta, two of the pro­
vinces of the dominion, are coming to the lront
and, in a few years, will dispute with American
coal for much of the trade of the Northwest. It
is, therefore, not amiss to say at this time that
all information relative to the industry in that
section of the continent is of value just now and
probably will increase in value ere the territory
is fully developed.
» • »
ILLINOIS NEW MINING COMMISSION HAS BEEN
NAMED, its object being to revise the mining laws
of the state. The commission is to report to
the next session of the legislature. With all
due respect to its membership and to the chief
executive of the state, if the results of its labors
are not more satisfactory than many similar com­
missions that have been puttering over mining
laws, the money that will be expended on it had
better been saved. The history of commissions
of this kind, in recent years, has been that neither
mine owners, miners or the public has been satis­
fied with the laws that followed the commission's
actions. Will this one turn out different?
Bituminous tonnage in one year running close
to one and three-quarter hundred millions isn't
half bad for Pennsylvania mines. It's a mighty
big drop in tbe bucket of national production.
* * *
Investors who have money in two or three cor­
porations can now see a little of the silver lining
to the cloud, since the decision ol the U. S. Court
says it's not a capital crime.
* * *
Trout, fishin's on, so what's the use of worrying
about wage troubles, car shortages, low prices or
anything else, when the speckled beauties are ris­
ing to tbe fly.
• * a
That referendum vote of the miners is a matter
of some moment these days, and we'll bet our old
bat it doesn't decrease in importance in the next
week.
* * .
"Safety" is the broncho that most mine opera­
tors have a rope on these days and are breaking
to the saddle.