Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-28

cannot get tnem Inc muNlLlOu III
dustries are here again responsible to
a considerable extent, offering better
wages and the great opportunities that
60 with new and unsettled conditions.
A variety of other minor causes work
to the same effect. One mine Is IN
difficulties because of heavy enlist
ment in the national guard. A recruit
ing station was set up at the mine
There is also some decrease in produc'
ton due to strikes, but strikes are rel
atively rare at the moment. With the
exception of Oklahoma. most OF the
fields are unhampered by this cause.
The shortage of labor however, due 10
a combination of all causes. is an ele.
ment in the high market.
Exports of coal have also tended to
put the domestic market in difficulties.
Considerable shipments have gone for
ward to Canada, and some coal is ship
ped abroad; though recently export
dealers cancelled all quotations by
cable owing to the way prices were
climbing.
All these causes are real and ply.
steal. Coal dealers and to some en-
tent coal producers. are inclined to
add another important cause in the at
titude of the public. A. scare went
over the mind of the ultimate con-
sumner recently. He began to wonder
about his winter coal. Then he began
to buy. and found the market rather
tight. That made him more determ,n
ed than ever to get his coal: he bought
more eagerly. and naturally caused
more and more of shortage. There
was real truth in the claim that the
consumers fright was responsible for
some of the little near panics that
ruffled certain cities: but the consum
er's attitude was not the only cause
or the chief cause. His attitude was
the result. and not the cause, Of a
shortage in coal.
That shortage is showing itself in
a score of ways all over the country.
1t Is necessary to bear in mind the dis
tinction between domestic coal and in
dustrial coal. Domestic coal, the kind
that we use in our furnaces and stoves
is an expensive grade, which has to
supply a seasonal demand. Industrial
coal is cheaper. is needed all the year
around, and is feeling the present sit
uation much more than the domestic.
Some industrial Goals have jumped
fields are being invaded by buyers
from districts they never supplied be-
fore Illinois Goals are being sold in
the middle Of the Ohio coal district.
Washington and OREGON are buying
coal in Oklahoma. Steamers are hav-
ing trouble getting enough coal to I'LL
their bunkers. One ocean liner had tn
visit three different piers before she
could get enough coal to put to sea.
Public utilities. which must have coal
for power to hold their franchises. are
being forced into the open market to
buy steam coal at prices that have
been termed fabulous" Contractors
who are under bond to supply big con
sumers with given quantity OF Goa!
are beginning to get anxious Small
mines that have lain idle for years are
being opened and run at good profit.
The situation in domestic coal is
relatively less serious. The warm
weather has held late this year. and
done more than anything else possibly
could to relieve, matters. Yet coal
prices seem destined to climb. both in
anthracite and bituminous The s12
ton figure has been touched in New
York. Coal sold by the bushel. in
sacks. has brought price equivalent
to SIT and SIS ton. SUCH figures are
however exceptional.
The point of real interest and impor-
lance is the prospect for the immediate
future and here there is little salts
faction to be had. Experts refuse to
make any predictions. The situation Is
generally regarded as rather grave,
but not as cause for alarm. The first
cold snap will almost certainly let us
know where We really stand. what our
reserves and resources are. Mean
while. we can attack the problem as
individuals and as nation and deal
with such of the elements in it as are
susceptible to treatment Transports
ton facilities. mine output. speculative
buying can all be controlled The in,
dividual can do his share by refusing
to get excited and not insisting on
buying six months supply of coal at
once, in spite of all obstacles. Tha:
sort of buying tends to furry the mar.
ket. This is time to keep calm, to
help the miner and the dealer in their
effort to keep pace with the demand.