coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

| NECROLOG1CAL fl
Mr. James McDonald, western manager of sales
of the Pittsburgh Coal Co., with offices in Chicago,
died at bis home in Evanston, 111., April 20. Mr.
McDonald had been in the coal business for prac­
tically 25 years, in which time he had risen from
bookkeeper to one of the most important selling
positions in the western tiade. Mr. McDonald was
born July 21, 1865, at Lincoln, England, and grad­
uated from Oxford University. He came to Amer­
ica in about 1885. In 1890, Mr. McDonald accepted
a position with the Chicago, Wilmington & Ver­
million Coal Co*, as bookkeeper. In 1904, lie oi­
ganized the Interstate Coal & Coke Co., which
opened a mine in Ohio, and which took over the
sale of the coal of the William Job Coal Co. In
1910, .Mr. McDonald went with tbe Pittsburgh Coal
Co. as westein manager of sales. He occupied
that position at the time of bis death. In 1891,
Mr. McDonald married Miss Florence R. Lemmon,
who, with two children, survives him.
U. S. Stafford, outside mine foreman of the
Consolidation Coal Co., at Chiefton, W. Va., died
recently after an lilness of a few days. Mr. Staf­
ford was a native of Preston County, belonging
to a well known family in that section of the
state. For the past 15 years he has been located
at Chiefton, coming there about the time of the
opening of the mining plant. Hi- was an experienced
man in the mining business, and was
one of the valued and trusted employees of his
firm. At the time of his death he was 48 years
of age. and is survived by bis wife and four chil­
dren.
Mr. Thomas B. Bancroft, state mine inspector
of Ohio from 1884 to 1888, under the administrations
of Govs. Hoadley and Foraker, died at his
home in Springfield, O., recently, aged 74. He
was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and had been
a resident of Ohio since the early '7o's. He is
survived by two daughters, Mrs. B. H. Akin, of
Columbus, ()., ancl Miss Clara Bancroft, of Ma­
con, Ga.
Mr. J. B. Irish, member of tbe firm of Irish
Bros., one of the best known coal-operating firms
in Cambria, Center, Clearfield and Clarion coun­
ties. Pa., died suddenly April 25 just as he was
about to enter bis home at Norristown, Pa. He
had just returned from a business trip to Phila­
delphia when summoned. Mr. Irish was about
60 years of age.
J. S. Wiley, a prominent Iowa operator, died at
the Red Cross Hospital in Kansas City on April
17. He was 75 yeais old. Mr. Wiley retired
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 39
from active business two years ago. Prior to
that time he was president of the Marquette
Third Vein Coal Co. The body was taken to
Davenport, Iowa, for interment.
Mr. John H. Davis, of Sf. Clair, Pa., one of
the best known coal operators of the anthracite
region, dropped dead in front of the St. Clair
National bank, St. Clair, Pa., recently. He was
aged about 60, and had spent practically all bis
lite in the anthracite region. In addition to
operating tile Ellsworth colliery, lie was presi­
dent of the bank in front of which he died.
VICTOR-AMERICAN FUEL COMPANY'S
REPORT SHOWS DECREASED RETURNS.
In the fourth annual report of the Victor-
American Fuel Co., for tho year ending June 30,
1913, Vice President XV. J. Murray says:
The net income was $591,542. After providing
for fixed charges and depreciation reserves, a
balance of $257,107 (being $101,357 less than in
1911-12) was carried to credit of profit and loss.
On November 5, 1912, a dividend of 1V2 per cent.
on the capital stock foi- the six months ending
June 30, 1912, was paid, and on June 3, 1913, a
further 1V2 per cent, lor the half-year ending
December 30, 1912. After making allowances for
these dividends and other minor adjustments, the
credit balance in profit and loss account June 30,
1913, was $198,513. The decrease in tonnage of
coal produced was 73,390 tons; in tonnage of
coke, 10,981 tons.
The decrease in surplus income was brought
about by a number of causes, mainly of a temporary
character. On April 1, 1912. an advance
in wages to all mine employees of 10 per cent.
was put into effect, and on March 5, 1913, in Colorado,
and August 1, 1913, in Xew Mexico, an
8-hour day was imt into effect, causing a reduction
of 2o per cent, in the hours the mines were
operated daily without any corresponding reduction
in wages. On most of our steam-coal contracts
an equal increase in the price of coal was
secured, but the price of domestic coals could
only be increased gradually to meet this.
On June 18, 1912, an explosion of gas in the
Hastings mine caused the death of 12 miners and
a considerable property loss, and greatly curtailed
the production of coal throughout the year and
increased the cost of the smaller tonnage produced.
Unusual expenditures in painting and re­
pair of tenant houses, increase in taxes, pay­
ments for personal injuries and reduced dividends
from the Western Stores Co. account for fully
one-half of the decrease in surplus income.
The Stores Co. suffered a large loss in the
volume of business transacted in an effort to