Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16
'ARRAYRle FIGURES
ON COAL SHORTAGE
Critics Of National Fuel Admin
istration Here to Air
Grievances.
SOME KICKS TO BE MADE

SOME KICKS TO BE MADE
Information which is expected to
play an important part IN the forth
coming Senate inquiry into the coal sit
uAtion, when the committee now In
vestigating the food administration
turns it's attention to the fuel admins
tration, is disclosed in the latest avail
able figures on coal production and
transportation.
with the assembling of Congress
there arrived in Washington small
army of critics of the fuel administra-
ton. each determined to air in Congress
the complaints from his own region. In
some ways the fuel administration is
more vulnerable to attack than the food
administration, irrespective of the mer-
It's Of either. For instance. there Is not
the opportunity in most sections to en-
ploy substitutes for coal as there is for
food: neither can 1t be shown that coal
ie wasted so profusely as is food.
To Probe Anthracite Shortage.
One fruitful field for inquiry is prom
ised in the present shortage of anthra-
cite coal in the east; especially acute in
New England and to a lesser degree in
Washington. AS outlined yesterday by
one off1ciaL the anthracite situation, in
relation to the bituminous problem, is
this.
Figures for the first eight months Of
the wa. from April to November, inclu-
sfve, show an increased production in
anthracite coal over the corresponding
period of last year of Is per cent:
Ignite production increase of II per
cent and q bituminoas increase Of Is
Per cent.
Now. it is argued. there is more than
10 per cent increase in the demand for
bftuminous coal. SO a shortage is ex-
plicable there. But. 1t is argued, there
te little increase in the demand for an
thracite COAL used principally for do
nestle heating. because the population
has not increased Therefore. with a
- per cent increase in production Of
anthracite coal. why can't IL be had In
many cities
Industries Turn to Hard Coal.
The fuel administration holds that
anthracite already is used normally to
some extent IN industries. and to coun-
tefact the bituminoss shortage many
plants have turned to anthracite. 1t
also 10 stated that at the present time
there are immense Quantities Of an.
thfecite coal piled up at seaboafd
pc1nts, waiting to be shipped to points
north. and there is no coastwise tom
Haoe available to handle this coal This
situation already is under consideration
by the shipping board and the Navy
Department.
Critics of the fuel administration are
preparing to dig up correspondence to
prove that the present anthracite
trouble could have been avoided had
the fuel administration taken steps to
comply with requests In September that
ears which were laden with coal for
the northwest be used to carry coal to
ssaboard points where it could then
have been shipped to New England
more readily than II can now be carried
Railroads Make Reply.
Railroad representatives became FESTIVE
egfne time ago under charges by the fuel
administration that the distribution trou-
bfeS were mostly the result Of car short
SO: Figures have been compiled to show
1Ae the carriers have kept pace with the
1880 pfoduction BY carrying 1885
recalA period than were hauled in the
coffespcndfng period OF 1915, and s2s. 6si
to more Of htan1jnotn coG sEe
fOf coal. excepting that already Contracted
1Qs. fres coal or coal not under contract,
virtually disappeared from the market.
ms Is charsed that this resulted In the
Milling Of orders from corporations and
pubic utilities for both hard and soff
ooA mr in excess Of their needs. and
Qt piles OF as much as 100, zoo and
y Ne along the lines Of the 3. q the
Esnn1yfvanta and the c. q o. and the
Hee1etk and Western roads bought up BY
s -, and public utility opera
n,sroy could not get any.
recently complaints OF this sort from
@e south have Come to the fuel aimfnis-
q u held that DR.. Garfield and his assc-
Gaxes have no power to take this cpei
say from the holders but an effort ie
ssi1x made = compel it, redistribution
Surplus IN West; Short in East.
Another storm center of the invest,-
eatfon is expected to be the present
a1undAnt supply In the northwestern
asAtes. including Minnesota. the pa
a. fuel administration to be 'ooo. obi,
mere tons than were shipped 10 these
staten last year. and claimed NV ofhsr
rsports to be 100000 tons in excess Of
Ws s nmonn' !; asked for in that section.
sentfAl Industries. many engaged In
var work. in the east. and partfcula fiv
~ ne r.t Ensland, can't get coal.
eetytce OF the railroads. war hos -
@eae formal request by letter, follow
M6 several previous verbal reauesf.
snaf this excess coal in the northwest
other seaboard points and shinned fra,,,
shere to New England by water. Thjs
request was denied on the ground tba
such diversion would be in vioIatian al
me priority order issued by .JuaSa
Hovett, At the request Of the cnsi
operators. e"A'
Ene railroads war board. on t,cfaba.
III sent another letter. asking that =
< corofdinating committee be formefl 80
- made up OF a Representative AZ ~
pgeretate Commerce Commission tbs
tueI admin istration. the food ad,,;nise
yetton. Judge Lovett's Committee ana
IL the railroads board. This rsanas.
vas denied by the fue, "Reminiscences,
twas stated that man could mt III
spareo from Dr. GarfeIds force 10
serve on such committee
Priority Orders VS.. Contracts.
Though IL is admitted by the fps, =.
minfstration that free" coal is =,
premium. IT is claimed that Goa, l.. he
Ing ordered to localities WHARF 8, a.
needed by priority orders piac.a
mines. which take preees,epcs - - t.ie
tracts Thus. II is held. conlra"t. snm
IN eject invalidated when IL ;s>.s 81.
pubic interest to do so Raitrn,.1, sne
= wtnout authority to halt shtnn. 49,, :
commences already provided win 80,
ana " is charged that operators natnn
Ally sell to contract buyers whsa ~ !.
49,. because OF the higher prices naJd
Critieisn against local condi,,an
snuy mas been directed toward the &c.
suAnce OF statements from the go. 20
-