It is sometimes said that the U. S. coal industry, disposed as it is to overproduce, needs a good strike about every three years. For the nation as a whole this is certainly no formula for wealth and plenty. The six-week soft-coal deadlock that ended last week caused serious and conspicuous economic damage. Retail trade in the strike area dropped 15% to 20%. Estimates of the total loss of purchasing power ran as high as $100,000,000. Though last week's settlement came in time to prevent large-scale stoppage of factories, ships or railroads, the effects of the strike will continue to...
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