Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-31
Mine MORE COAL
THAN LAST YEAR
Garfield Announces 10 Per Cent
Increase in Production.
SUPPLY FOR ALL SECTIONS
Question Of Shortage This Year viii
Depend Upon Whether Demand Has
Increased More Than the 10 Per
Cent Increase In Production-cana.
da to Get Its Share.

Coal production in this country this
year will exceed that Of last year by
10 per cent. The embargo against
sending coal TO Canada has been lifted
and an arrangement made By which
she is TO be supplied on Il pro rata ba-
sis. substantially as though she were
state Of the Union. The American
Northwest will be properly supplied.
These are high lights of recent con.
ferences announced by Federal Fuel
Administrator Harry A. Garfield.
Not only will this years coal pro.
duction exceed that of last year by 10
per cent. but it will exceed that Of.
two years ago by 23ia per cent. These
are the figures given Doctor Garfield
by Prof. George o. Smith Of the United
States geological survey.
THE question of shortage for this
year said Doctor Garfield, twill de-
pend then upon whether the American
demand has increased by more than
the 10 per cent increase in production.
II our industrial development, from
the war and other causes has grown
beyond that, then We must 60 short.
We have no figures at hand 10 tell
what that development has been."
Ahead Of Last Year
Professor Smith states that the sur
vey figures include all bltumtnous coal,
whether used IN making coke or not
and that the figures for anthracite are
approximately the same. Last year
the bituminous tonnage mined was In
excess Of 5O2 100000 tons. 1t is ex-
pected this year to reach $50 .0OO,0U
tons. Anthracite should show the
same increase. substantially. America,
according to Professor Smith, Is now
nearly n month ahead of last years
production at this time.
Canada got pproximately l9,0OO.-
600 tons Of coal both anthracite and
btuminous. from this country last
year. This year. under the arrange
same amount. plus an increase pro
rated upon the excess over last years
production, substantially as though
she were state of the Union. This
action was taken because 1t Is vital
that Canada's war industries be kept
going full blast. in order that she may
remain an effective ally Of America In
the war.
The fuel administration is working
on the pro rating at present. In Its
possession are the records of all export
ers Of coal to Canada last year. Judge
MCGEE. speaking for the Northwest,
has expressed his approval Of the
plan.
All to Get Share.
Coal apportioned will arrive on the
upper lake docks before December /.
The amount apportloned to Canada un-
der the present order Is not the full
supply; nor Is that already sent to
the Northwest. But each district will
have received Its percentage, and no
section will draw upon another for its
supply.
All coal sent by water to Canada,
which includes practically the whole
supply. moves from Lake Erie ports.
This coal will be under the direction
OF F. c. Baird, who will make daily
reports to the fuel administration at
Washington. tt.s
The fuel administration has lists
showing the location of more than g.
100000 tons Of free coal--that is, coal
not under contract-and bona fde do
nestle requirements are being tnken
care Of when specific, authentic state.
ments Of shortage are furnished. This
work Is under the direction OF L. A.
Snead Of the staff.