161A-1 Kegistry No. 702—8—21 NATIONAL RECOVERY ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION FOR THE BLUE GEM COAL INDUSTRY AS SUBMITTED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1933 The Code for the Blue Gem Coal Industry in its present form merely reflects the proposal of the above-mentioned industry, and none of the provisions contained therein are to be regarded as having received the approval of the National Recovery Administration > as applying to this industry UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1933 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. Washington, D.C. Price 5 cents StJBMITTEa) BY NEIRSDALE COAL COMPANY, BURK HOLLOW COAL COMPANY, CUM- BERLAND BEND COAL COMPANY, MOUNTAIN ASH BLUE GEM COAL COMPANY, BOWLIN BLUE GEM COAL COMPANY, S. A. WENDBR, C. C. VERMILLION, AND ESTER CROWLEY. (11) TO HONORABLE HUGH JOHNSON, NATIONAL RECOVERY ACT ADMINISTRATOR, WASHINGTON, D.C. Whereas the undersigned represents the great majority of coal operators in Campbell County,, Tennessee, and Whitley County, Ken- tucky, doing a peculiar kind of coal mining commonly known as the " Blue Gem Coal Industry ", which is so designated because the coal mined by such operators is a small coal known as " Blue Gem Coal", which averages about twenty-tw^o (22) inches in thickness; and Wliereas said Blue Gem Operators do not operate any large com- mercial companies but small operations working coal strictly by hand and without cutting or other machines, mostly by the hand- and-pick method; and, whereas, the employees of said operators are mostly natives of the community wherein they are working, own their homes, farm part time, and do other odd jobs; and Whereas said operators each employs from 15 to 30 men; and Whereas said operators have been paying their employees 50^ to 60^^ per ton for digging and loading run-a-mine coal, and have been paying day laborers from $1.25 to $1.50 per day ; and Whereas to close said mines and stop said operations would force said employees out of any kind of commercial work as other com- mercial work is not available, and as they own their homes and farm and do similar work part time they could not leave their homes and property for other fields; and Whereas said operators have and now do express a desire to cooperate in every way possible with the National Recovery Act movement and program; now. Therefore, considering the foregoing premises and reasons, the undersigned operators of said blue-gem coal do hereby agree between themselves and propose to pay their employees the sum of $0.80 per ton for digging and loading nm-a-mine Blue Gem Coal and $1.20 per ton for mining screened coal over a iy2-inch screen, and pay $2.00 per day for day labor; and further agree between ourselves and propose to work said employees not more than eight hours per day and not more than forty hours per week. We have further agreed to and do hereby submit this as our National Recovery Act Code to the proper department of the United States Government, honestly believe that any higher wage scale than the above will force us completely out of business, and we 9095—33 (1) UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2 3 1262 08851 7981 urgently ask National Recovery Act Administrator to ratify and confirm the foregoing agreement and permit the adoption of same as our official National Recovery Act Code. Witness our hands, this 7th day of August 1933. S. A. Wender, JeJlico, Tennessee. Nevisdale Coal Company, Nevhdale^ Kentucky ., By John Goins, Authorized Agent. BuEK Hollow Coal Company, JelUco., Tennessee., By S. F. Broughton, Anthorized Agent. Cumberland Bend Coal Company, Gatliff., Kentucky. By R. B. Hill, Authorized Agent. C. C. Vermillion, JelUco, Tennessee. Mountain Ash Blue Gem Coal Company, Mt. Ash, Kentucky, By Ben Croley, Authorized Agent. Ester Crowley, Nevisdale, Kentucky. BowLiN Blue Gem Coal Company, Jellico, Tenmsssee, By Peter Bowlin, Authorized Agent.