New Britain herald., 1917-12-27
GARFIELD F0RESEES
 CONTROL OF MINES
Government Will Take Over Coal Mines If Necessity Demands

Washington, Dec. 27.-Dr. Harry A. Garfield, Federal Fuel Admins trator told the Senate Coal Investigat- ing Committee that the United States Fuel Administration had been forced to work in weary circle in it's ef- forts to get coal to those who needed 1t most
 Dr. Garfield was the first witness in the investigation into the coal situa- tlon. Among other things, he ex- pla1ned how, when the war and the approach of winter developed a tre- mendously increased need for coal. the Fuel Administration took meas ures to stimulate production; how it then found itself confronted with la DOT troubles, which finally were ironed out, and how finally, having stimu- lated production and got labor satis- ned and working full time, the ad- ministration found itself confronted with transportation problem.
 The ability of the railroad to carry the coal, the witness said, reduced production and threw men out of work, putting the administration back at the beginning of its circle again.
 Dr. Garfield also told the commit tee that he was working toward gov ernment control of the coal mines, which lis inevitable if the war con- tinues." He said he would have put government control into effect as soon as he took office had it not been that he feared such a sudden change would defeat the very end toward which he aimed, the supplying of coal
 
 As step toward government con- trol, Dr. Garfield said, he has or dered that when present coal con- tracts expire new ones shall provide for a limited quantity of coal, to be sold at the government fixed price on date of delivery and subject to revo- cation if the government meantime decides to run the mines.
 The big coal operators of the country have assured me they are ready to deliver their properties the moment the government asks for them," he said.
 Dr. Garfield stated that, in his opinion. unification of the country's railroads, either under government control or by the roads themselves, was absolutely essential to the solving of the coal problem.
 There was shortage in available coal between Aug. IS and Nov. A of 20,166,442 tons, simply because of the car shortage" he said. We have asked railroad co-operation-and I am not criticising the railroa ads-but I deem it absolutely essential to suc- cessful distribution of coal where it is most needed that the railroads he put in condition to handle the out put of the mines"
 One hundred steamships acerecat- ing more than 1.OOO,OOO tons gross are being held in New York harbor through lack of coal, and the number is increasing daily. Every pier in the East and North Rivers is occupied and the vessels have to anchor either in tho lower bay or up the North River until there is room.
 Twenty-two of detained steamships arc owned by French company and have been waiting for coal since Nov. "A. They include four ammunition ships. Fifteen steamships, ranging from 5000 to 5O,0OO gross tons are owned by an Anglo American corpor- alton. and eight others by q British steamship company. The other ves- sells are freighters belonging to Amer ican, French, Italian, and British com panies, and a few steamships operat- ed by the United States Shipping boarr in carrying supplies and horses to France.
 One of the managers of the Der wind White Coal company, the chief coal producers for shipping in the port of New York, said yesterday that the coal situation was very serious. It was interfering with the progress of the war, and there was no relief in sight.