CHAPTER XXIV: THE FISCAL MINES OF THE SAAR DISTRICT

The Prussian Government Mines.—Decrease of Profits.

Not only railways, but all other state undertakings are exposed to commercial risks. Their profits do not always increase, as is proved by the fiscal mines belonging to the Prussian government. The following tables show the decease in the aggregate in the accounted profits of Prussian mining undertakings:

Years	Reported Profits	Number of Workmen	Profit per Capita
	Marks		Marks	pf.
1890 .....	24,464,000	36,475	433	19
1891 .....	17,112,000	57,939	395	36
1892 .....	13,829,000	57,307	241	33
1893 .....	15,084,000	55,322	272	66
1894 .....	15,024,000	57,009	263	55
1905 .....	30,651,000	84,244	363	84
1906 .....	27,444,000	89,130	307	92
1907 .....	14,622,000	92,776	157	61
1908 .....	16,136,000	96,845	166	62
1909 .....	17,000,000	101,941	166	76
Average
1890–1894 ..	17,102,600	52,810	321	22
1895–1899 ..	27,302,552	64,375	424	05
1900–1904 ..	34,846,403	77,462	449	85
1905–1909 ..	21,170,600	92,987	232	55

The enormous falling off after 1905 is readily seen; the decrease per workman is 48 per cent., compared with the previous period.

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A similar decrease is to be noticed in all the mining enterprises except that of salt.

	1890	1906	1907	1908	1909
		Thousands of Marks
Mining undertakings except salt ........	20,415	20,987	8,058	10,921	11,299
Metallurgical works ........	1,099	4,245	1,982	882	31
Salt works .........	1,749	668	3,210	3,930	5,031
Thermal establishments .........	34.7	35.1	34.0	5.5	111.1
	———	———	———	———	———
Total ..........	23,297.7	25,935.1	13,284.	15,738.5	16,472.1

The decrease in the profits in government mining ventures is due, above all, to the coal mines of the Saar district.

The following triennial tables show the changes which have taken place since 1900 in the cost and the selling price per ton of the coal from these mines:

Cost per ton in marks

Years	Salary	Equipment	Charges for the Benefit of Workmen	Taxes	Total1
1900 ........	4.74	1.64	0.44	0.12	1.43
1903 ........	4.89	1.57	0.52	0.18	1.82
1906 ........	5.26	1.74	0.55	0.16	1.78
1909 ........	5.52	2.11	0.74	0.19	2.13

Selling price and profits

Years	Price Actually Realized	Expense for New Installation	Complete Profit	Total1
1900 ........	10.68	0.14	2.76	2.90
1903 ........	10.00	0.22	1.48	1.70
1906 ........	10.40	0.28	1.36	1.64
1909 ........	11.03	0.58	0.59	1.17

1

The net cost has increased 48 per cent. and the profits have decreased 59 per cent. The budget Edition: current; Page: [255] established by the Prussian Department of Mines, Foundries, and Salt Works, has been worked out on new principles, such as a distinction between the costs of administration and the expenses of operation, reserves for new installations, current expenses, etc. Miscellaneous expenses, figuring heretofore in the general budget of the Prussian government, although really concerning financial operations, have been carried over to the budget of the Department of Mines, Foundries, and Salt Works. Hence, there is a decrease of 8,859,177 marks in the preliminary estimate of the net profit as compared with the budget of 1911.1

The gross profit upon Prussian fiscal mining enterprises was estimated for 1912 at 18,215,000 francs; the net profit at 5,938,000 francs. It should be explained, however, that a certain amount had been previously deducted for the Academy of Mines at Berlin, as well as for the Geological Institute.

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