The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-15
Ramsay Returns From Con- ferences Held in Wash
 ington Last Week
GREAT EMERGENCY
 IN FUEL SITUATION
Chairman F. S. Peabody in Formal Statement Tells How Every Coal Operator and Employe
 Can Help

tional committee on coal production, has returned from Washington, where he has been in conference with members of the committee for several days
 There is nothing specially new to re- port in connection with our york; said MT. Ramsay. fWe held daily conferences and prepared a statement to all inter- ested in the coal industry to be issued by Chairman r. s. Peabody of the commit tee. Subcommittees for each of the dis tricts are to be named by the various members, but I have not yet decided on those to be appointed in the territory which I represent"
 The full personnel of the new coal com mittee is as follows:
 Francis S. Peabody-Chairman
 George W. Reed-Secretary.
 E. J. Berwind-New York, representing central Pennsylvania, Maryland and Low Volatile fields of West Virginia.
 W. w. Keefer, Pittsburg. representing western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michi- gan.
 Van II. Manning, Washington, D. C., director United States bureau of mines.
 N M. NhOueTN6ll 1ulCd6Og ICpl CSChbAhS Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky.
 E. l.. Pierce, Syracuse. N. Y., repre- senting coke industry.
 Erskine Ramsey, Birmingham, repre- senting Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
 George Otis Smith, Washington, D. C., director United States geological survey.
 James J. Storrow, Boston, represent ing New England
 H. N. Taylor, Kansas City, represent ing Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
 S. D. Warriner, Philadelphia, repre- senting Anthracite coal industry.
 J. F. Welborn, Denver, representing Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
 Daniel B. Wentz, Philadelphia, repre- senting eastern Kentucky, Virginia and high volatile fields of West Virginia.
 TO NAME SUBCOMMITTEES
 Among other things Chairman Pea body in his address says:
 *The country at the present time in the matter of it's fuel production is con fronted with a great emergency.
 Notwithstanding the increased pro- duction of coal from practically every district, the increasing requirements to meet the needs of all classes of industry, as well as for the comfort and welfare of the people and the transportation of troops, munitions, food and other prod ucts, together with the supplying of our allies, and for our national protection all these demands are liable to surpass the capacity of our mines unless the full cooperation of the mining, transport ing and distributing agents of this coun : try is secured. This emergency requires xt, d. t.;z efficiency, especially on account of a di- unfinished supply of labor used in the production of coal, but also in more con- prehensive methods of cooperation by the coal producers with the transport ing and distributing agencies, so that not only a full production will be se- cured, but also that this production finds its way over our railroads into those cen ters where the most urgent need exists.
 If the demand for this product con tinues to increase it may be necessary that active steps be taken to so far as possible confine the distribution and use of it to those activities which are more nearly vital to the welfare and protec- tion of the nation. That this may not effect an unnecessary hardship upon the domestic welfare of the duty laid upon us to promote this welfare we urge upon you that you cooperate with this com mittee in it's efforts to promote the largest production, the most equitable distribution, and the highest use to pro- duce the best economic results. No doubt an emergency exists but it is the belief of this committee that with your hearty support and the assistance of the public in conserving supply, sufficient fuel can be had to meet public necessity.
 "The operation of well established mines should not be impeded and we suggest and urge that the practice of moving miners from the mines of well established producing companies or com nunities to other districts be discour- aged, as this practice creates state of unrest and tends to decrease the total output of coal, interfering with the sta bility of the industry which is neces- sary for the highest efficiency.
 PRODUCTION CURTAILED
 ''The total production of coal through out the country has been seriously cur tailed by difficulties in transportation service and unequal distribution of cars, resulting in shortage in the number of cars available for loading, as well as congestion in the avenues leading to the points of distribution We urge upon