Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-11


and will prove more serious as the
cold weather advances, is the general
opinion Of coal men who have been
making careful study of the situa-
ton.
Few people west Of Chicago realize
the seriousness of the condition that
exists" said George Gregory, in speak
ing of the situation What may be
the result of furnishing an adequate
coal supply to this section in the period
of cold weather now approaching is
nurd to predict.
Paying Fabulous Prices For Coal.
In the territory of Chicago, and all
over the east" continued Mr.. Gregory,
fabulous prices are being paid for any
kind of coal, and the production in the
fields of West Virginia, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, which
usually supply that territory, has been
so curtailed by the shortage Of car sup.
ply, as we'll as the shortage of men to
produce the coal, that this territory has
turned to Illinois and Indiana for their
requirements.
I'm many instances premium of 81
to $3.50 per ton for the coal that, in
y
tensively in Illinois. Iowa, Minnesota
and the Dakotas. AS an Illustration OF
what this means to this section the
dealers here received yesterday an Of
fer to sell three cars of Franklin coun-
ty, Illinois, coal, in transit, at $4.75 per
ton at the mines. AS the freight rate
Is $3.50 per ton this would stand the
dealer sos per ton on track in this
city. This coal Is now retailing at 1878
cash delivered in the bin of the con-
sumer. The lake docks have such a
limited amount of coal on hand that
they can, supply only small percent
age of their demand, even If they could
get cars plentifully, which they can
not.
Advises Consumers to Stock Up.
Looking this situation fairly in the
face it behooves all coal consumers to
keep as much coal on hand as they
can take care Of as the present con-
dition prevails. notwithstanding the
fact that we have not had any cold
weather as yet. The cold weather will
surely come, and with it suffering un-
less provision Is made while coal can
be had even at the present prices
:. Comes Back to European War.
Shortage of men in the mines. short
age of cars owing to the great demand
for other purposes, principally to get
war munitions to the seaboard. short
age of water supply in eastern factor
les and the consequent use Of coal to
take the place Of water power all have
Il part in the coal shortage situat!An.
according to The Black Diamond, a
Chicago coal trade journal.
Influence Of Munitions.
4 writer i; The Black Diamond, who
has been touring the east gathering
material In his study of the situation.
tells in the current issue Of the puo.
LEGATION "Why the East Suffers a Big
Coal Shortage" The situation has re-
solved itself. as far as the shortage
locally Is concerned, into the fact that
tho east has been drawing from Illinois
and other middle western coal produc-
ing states for its supply 80 that 1lii-
nois, instead Of shipping coal west. as
1t always has done. is shipping east
and the west IL drawing on Iowa
In telling Of the situation tbs coal
journal writer says:
mo one knows until hs has spent q
week prowlinH around thu east to what
an extent the munitions business is
absorbing this excess and even part of
the normal energy OF the big industries
of the east AS 4. does that, 1t is talkins
coal of course . For instance, m.a9
references nave been made to the plant
OF the DuPonts at Hopewell, Va. That
place did not exist. as powder factory
before the war. 1t is today housing q
great army Of workers y Its coal needs
are probably $4,000 tons per month.
Here is just one new plant which has
taken out Of the market for this year
the total production Of two moderate
sized eastern mines, working under ex-
listing conditions. And that plant with
Its big coal need did not exist before
the war.
There Is also the case Of the Cam
bria Steel Company. In normal times
it burns 1000 tons Of coal per day.
This year it took on some munitions
orders and of course got more home
business. 1t is now buying and using
10000 tons Of coal per day. That takes
for one big user alone, 5000 tons Of
coal out Of the market. This means
the removal from the market of six
ordinary sized eastern mines-the car
shortage being considered
another case comes almost at the
same instant. One of the big users of
coal was employing at this time a year
ago, 1900 men. 1t took on some mu-
nitions orders and employs today 5000
men. This means two and half times
as many men. 1t may mean twice as
much coal consumption.
Men Hard to Get.
AN eastern coal man sent body of
si;outs into the south this last week to
pick up, if possible, some southern
"darkies" to work in his coal mine.
These scouts ran into similar body
On the same mission for one of the big
eastern railroads. The railroad men
admitted that they had, in turn, en-
countered similar recruiting staff in
the employ Of steel mill.
again, one coal company spent, at
the beginning of one week, lot of
money in cash and for tools to get
$50 miners into one Of it's mines. At
the end Of that week it had five less
miners than 1T had before it imported
airy. The miners had in the man.
been stolen by some other mines in the
same vicinity. Those other mines had
their men stolen by the adjoining fac
tories, which mad lost other men to
;he munitions plants.
The Real Cause.
IF the potential demand is far
greater than the potential production
assuming full supply Of labor at
both the mines and the steam plants