The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-24
COAL SHORTAGE
IS A MYTH
Plenty of it in United States,
But Car Shortage is the
Cause Of ALI of the
Trouble.
MORE THAN LAST YEA
S s
81
Factories Running over T'm1 ("
en- as Cause for incre
Demand for Fur
Now.
MORE THAN LAST YEA

limited Press Leased Wire Service.l
CHICAGO, Oct. 24.-The reported
shortage Of coal is a myth, according
to coal jobbers from all sections OF
the country, here to effect the permar
nent organization Of the national coal
Jobbers association today.
There Is plenty of coal and II peo-
pie will only be patient no one will
suffer-" r. B. Haver. OF C1nclnnau,
said. "The only trouble is the de-
mand is abnormal, but the jobbers are
confident that DR.. Garfield and the
fuel administration will work out the
question satisfactorily.
"Ten per cent more coal is being
mined in the United States now than
a year ago and the tonnage for the
calendar year will show the increase
in production" ]. D. Cole, Of Kansas
City, declared.
"The country will produce nearly
$50. 900, 600 tons OF bituminous and
80, 900, 900 tons Of anthracite coal dur
ing 1917, which is an increase OF ten
per cent over last year and twenty
per cent more than the previous year.
These figures are based on the output
for the first six months"
Factories running overtime are caus-
ing the increased demand, but the In
creased production is sufficient to
care for this, jobbers say.
The jobbers are in sympathy with
the fuel administration and today
pledged their support to the work.
They say no action Will be taken at
the convention here to secure larger
profits for themselves, believing this
will follow when the coal problem Is
worked out.
VIII ConfIscate Piles.
DIES MONIES. Iowa, Oct. 24.-lf
the coal shortage becomes acute IN
Iowa. Fuel Dictator Webster will con-
fisicate the large quantities OF coal
now stored by various manufactorle5.
1t was intimated that Webster has
learned great quantities OF coal are
being boarded by large factories. t
was announced that if an actual
famine hits the state, Webster will
Immediately confiscate these piles.
Webster also will take steps to
prevent the shipment Of Iowa coal
from within the state.
Freight Car Shortage.
CHICAGO, Oct 4.-The greatest
grain crop in history to move and
an army Of a million and a half men
to feed, combined with the general
increase in business has brought
about a serious freight car short
age.
The railways face a shortage today
of over 10000 cars and they are IN
able to get more, D. I. Forsyth, vice
chairman Of the Chicago car service
committee, told the United Press to-
day.
The government is requiring Tor
army purposes-munitions and ships
the material for making locomo-
tiyes and freight cars. Also. practlc-
ally all the cars now being construct
ed are being sent to France which Is
in even greater need OF cars than
this country.
.'The middle west could use 1000
more cars daily Forsyth said. chi
go alone could use 1000 more daily,
and this is a conservative estimate.
Possible need is greater" Through
the manipulation OF a pooling sys-
tenn under the direction Of the rail
WAYS war board at Washington, the
RAILWAYS of the country were en-
abled to move twenty-five per cent
more traffic, with an increase Of only
three ger cent in cars, during the
six months just passed. Under the
direction Of this board, freight cars
of 69S railroads are pooled and USED |
wherever needed, which was prohibit
tive before the war.
"T lie only remedy for the shortage
saws Forsyth, "is for the shippers OF
the country to cooperate with the
railways in moving along shipments
os nuicSly as possible Ordering OF
fnI1 carload orders and the immed.
tate releasing of cars is asked of
Fire In Warehouse.