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Show Fabulous Profits Made by Coal Operators in East WASHINGTON. Nov 26 Bitumi nous coal mines east of the Mississippi Missis-sippi river in 1917 made "what might be termed fabulous profits," the general gen-eral aerage belns from 100 to l'cl per cent on invested capital, neronlinp to a statement announced tonlchi by Sec retary Glass, based on data furnished by experts of the internal revenue bureau. bu-reau. "Coal operators generally in the United States during the ycars jq.. and 1915 lost monej when normal de pletion and depreciation are taken into consideration," the statement said What, is meant by this, la that ptoJr ,i time in fixing costs, is depreciat.on 0f plant and depletion of the cost or vahip ' of the coal in the ground. "In the latter part of 1916 all coal companies in the United States save j those in the extreme west, he-an mak ing money with the result that tho 1 I operations for the year 1916 generally 1 I show a profit of from 10 to 35 per cent I on capital invested. g "In 1917 all bituminous coal mln : f en -t of the Mississippi river marie what misht be termed fabulous pro" I it, the general average being from 100 to 150 per cent on invested capital - I the range being from 15 to Son ne: j 'cent. 1 a |