CONDITIONS IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES. 327
From this table it is apparent that prior to the war the United
States had but an insignificant share in the coal trade of these countries.
 In order to understand the previous competitive conditions of
this trade and to appreciate the prospects for business after the war,
it 1s necessary to know something of the organization of the coalmining
 industry in Germany, Great Britain, and the other chief
European producing countries.

GERMANY.

There are three chief coal-producing regions in Germany, viz,
the Ruhr in the northwest, Upper Silesia in the southeast, and the
Saar in the southwest. The first district is the most important, and
is the only one that needs special consideration in this connection.
It is the territory covered by the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate
 (Rheinisch-Westfilisches Kohlen Syndikat). Although there
are other coal combinations of some interest, the Rhenish-Westphalian
 cartel is the outstanding feature of the organization of the German
 coal-mining industry.
The Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate.—This combination is
the largest and from an economic point of view one of the most
important cartels in the Empire. Its structural organization has in
a large degree become typical. It was founded in 1893 for a period
of five years, but the syndicate agreement was continued with some
modifications until December 31, 1915. At that time disagreements
among the members threatened to prevent a further renewal but the
Federal Council (Bundesrat) adopted measures for the formation
of a compulsory cartel, whereupon the agreement was continued temporarily
 by effecting a so-called “transition syndicate” to continue
antil April 1, 1917. The State of Prussia, as owner of coal mines
in this district, has joined the syndicate, thus giving the Government
a voice in its deliberations. Prior to the temporary extension of the
agreement the coal syndicate had 67 members, but additional companies
 are in the transition syndicate. (See Pt. II, pp. 19, 21.)
OrcanizatioN.—The Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate is incorporated
 as a stock company with a capital of $571,200. According
 to its by-laws of 1904, its activities may include, besides the
purchase and sale of coal, coke, and briquets, also the preparation
of coal, the acquisition of mining land and mining shares, the operation
 of enterprises of all kinds for the purpose-of storing, selling,
and transporting mine products, as well as the participation in such
enterprises. The capital stock is divided into 8,000 shares of 800
marks each, transferable only with the consent of the company.
The members of the combination are tied by contracts with the
syndicate and with each other in such a way -as to effect a centraliza-