Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-01-26
WHY THERE is A COAL SHORTAGE

Ever since the fuel situation h a taken on a most serious aspect,
conjectures have been made as to just where the responsibility lay.
The Bonanza has gone into the m tier very carefully and a a result
feels that it has discovered wherein the cause exists. A most wonder
full growth has been going 0 n steadily although almost imperceptby
for the past few years until at present places heretofore o upon Inc
map are now busting centers. This is particularly SO IS regards the
whole section of the country west of the Missouri River. Especially Sc
in the case of our own state. This steady upbunding of new towns is
naturally commanding greater demand or pal Doh o muusulal anu
consumption. New mines are being operated here and new en-
terpnses there. The extreme cold along the Coast is also making un-
precedented calls for Goa. for daily domestic consumption me demand
is extraordinary while the production of the mines that supply M DIS
tct effected has been only that which obtained when conditions we're
normal. The growth Of the country being 81 quiet 70 aicauo came
to the surface, that could he taken IS harbingers of what might be
expected. The developments at the coal mines were not such that At
a moment the output could d increased 70 meet te PEE =, ue
mand and consequently a dearth of fuel ensued. In addition to this,
one of the largest coneries in Wyoming. with a daily output OF about
1000 tons. "a visited by an explosion and forced to shut down. In
many quarters the coal shortage has been attributed to the failure of
the railroad companies to move the coal. Investigation has proved
t ths hava rnahad trotn omar rain ~ the various nine only to ave
them held up until coal to All them could be mined The belief that
the railroads were the true cause of the trouble was further strength
ened by the fact that they appeared always to have sufficient supply
on hand for their own ue. The true inwardness of the matter dis
closes that o many occasions the service was only saved from severe
disarrangement through the conhscation of coal destined to private con
sumers. The greater confusion and suffering which would surely have
resulted from the failure to move freight ca be readily appreciated
and the action of the railroads is therefore justified. Besides to move
coal engines n required and to move the engines coal is necessary.
In many instances considerable coal has been confscated to transport a
quantity of coal of the sam magnitude and in some instances less
Very little good would be a trainload of coal to the suffering public if
attached Ito a dead engine.
Another evidence that the fault lies with the insufficient output is
the fact that enterprises closely allied to the railroad have been forced
to suspend, when they, if anyone could, would be able to obtain special
concession. This is particularly emphasized in the closing down of the
big plant at Mnlers, which has resulted in several of the local mines
being forced to fall back upon gasoline to operate their hobts. Another
element that does not tend to relieve the conditions is the growing de-
mand for oil, since the San Francisco disaster. A good supply of fuel
of this sort would help considerably, The railroads as far a S car be
ascertained III capable and ready to move the coal as fast is mined.
To the conditions outlined above is another that should be added. The
increase in ralroading- According to report at least 5000 new locomo-
tves we're turned out by the various works during the year just closed.
OF this number, let it be assumed that $500 went to replace wornout
equipment, it would still leave $500 engines which will have to be
coaled The supply for these engines should properly come under the
head of industrial consumption. The only relief in the present crisis
is a greater output from the mines. 1t is understood that the colliery
which was damaged by explosion will soon be again in operation SO
that from this sourc some relief may be expected. Again coal is now
e route from Australia and is expected to arrived in San Francisco
any time. In the meanwhile coal will be mined Is quickly as possible
and will be rushed to the needy centers as fast al it can be hauled by
the railroads. The developments in the mines arr now being done on
such a scale that an increased output can be expected at early date
and in spite of the suffering that has been endured and the little more
that may be necessary, it can safely be said that the lesson has not
been lost and that hereafter conditions will be such Is to properly
take care of the supply no matter how great may be the emergency.