Before the United States Anthracite Coal Commission Volume 3-7; Employes Exhibit Number (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1920 Excerpt: ... II. DETAILS OF DAYS WORKED FOR PERIOD 1881 TO 1891. The following table is drawn to show the factors influencing days worked for the period 1881 to 1891. (Sources as mentioned above.) DETAILS OF DAYS WORKED FOR PERIOD 1881 TO 1891. The outstanding feature of this table is the rapid increase in the number of men employed in the anthracite industry. In the course of 10 years approximately 66 per cent were added to the number employed in 1881. Between 1882 and 1883 the number increased by nearly 10,000. A similar increase was registered in the following year, while between 1887 and 1888 over 15,000 men were added to the army of anthracite workers. Meanwhile, with slight variations, the production per man per day remains almost constant. On the other hand, the anthracite production of the country increased, but not as rapidly as the working force. The consequence was a steady decrease in the number of days worked. These facts indicate that the anthracite industry was passing through the speculative period. The rapid growth of population and the cheapening of transportation caused a rapid development of the trade. The development of the West accentuated this increase in demand. Anthracite was looked upon as a good thing in the way of investment. The consequence was rapid expansion, the construetion of new collieries and the building of storage yards. This caused the increase in the number of anthracite workers. But, as is generally the case, this period of competitive speculation caused production to increase beyond what the market could absorb. Consequently the steady increase in the number of days of non-operation, which was to reach a climax in the 90s, had begun. Attempts to control production in order to keep the price up proved futile. The industry was not...