The West Virginia coal strike, which lasted sixteen months, and was marked by the violence and bitterness of a civil war, has come to an end, and contracts have been signed on both Paint and Cabin creeks. The Paint creek agreement, which was signed on July 24, accords full recognition to the United Mine Workers, and grants practically all their demands, including the check-off; that is, the deduction in the office from the miner’s wages of his union dues and the payment of them to the union officials. On Cabin creek the agreement signed on July 29 did not grant recognition to the unions, but it is stated in the _Coal Age_ that by the change from the long ton to the short ton the miners have secured an increase in wages, amounting to about 12 per cent. They have gained also the nine-hour day, a semi-monthly pay, the right to employ check weighmen and to trade where they please. The Paint creek contract is to run until March 31, 1914, while that of Cabin creek is to continue a year longer, coming to an end April 1, 1915. The _Coal Age_ sums up the cost of the bitter struggle, now ended, as follows: “Thirteen lives were lost in the insurrection. The cost in money was as follows: Operators loss in business $2,000,000; Loss to the miners in wages $1,500,000; Cost to the tax payers of the State $400,000; Additional cost to the tax payers of Kanawha County $100,000; Cost to the United Mine Workers collected by the check-off, a forced levy on the miners of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania $602,000; Property destroyed $10,000. This makes a total of $4,612,000.” BUSINESS IS LIFE: A SURVEY OF NEGRO PROGRESS WM. ANTHONY AERY Negro farmers, bankers, merchants, contractors, cotton brokers, insurance men, real estate dealers, social service workers, town and community builders, caterers, engineers, undertakers, educators--these men, representing the entire country and especially the South, told at the recent session of the National Negro Business League held in Philadelphia, with eloquence torn of simplicity and hard experience in the school of life, thrilling stories of success won through struggle, persistence, and good-will toward their white neighbors. The Philadelphia meetings furnished abundant proof of the statement that quality and service count in business and that men buy good products and efficient service without regard to color or race.