New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-12
Priority Shipment Orders
for Fuel the Only
Salvation
Railroads Must
Furnish More Cars
Entire Country VIII Suffer
Unless Relief Is Had
at Once
.Ntnf Corresnondcnccl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE Ma
tional Coal Association, representing
coal operators, in a statement made
public tonight, predicted nationwide
fuel famine unless immediate steps are
taken 70 supply cars with which to
move the mine output
Not only must the mines have cars
the association stated, but fuel must
have priority over other shipments. The
priority order issued by Judge Iovett
last week, which gives priority to fuel
food and war supplies, the association
states, is impotent to relieve the threat
ened fuel famine. The statement reads
in part:
Two weeks ago the National Coal As
ISOLATION publicly stated that the coun-
try faced a fuel famine which could
be averted only by the railroads fur
nishing adequate car supplies TO. the
mines. Since then conditions have
improved little. If at all.
Must Have Priority
"The railroads have shown an adj
mirable spirit IN pooling their trans
portation facilities. but the vitality es'
sential order 70 give a definite prefer
snce 70 The operation Of coal mines has
not been ISSUED. And until il is issued
the production Of coal cannot be in
creased sufficiently TO relieve the pres
ent fuel famine.
ut has now become apparent that
unless there is an immediate increase
in the number Of cars placed by the
Al L gaN 10
in the country, and improvement IN
the movement Of those cars, the situa-
ton which at present exists in Ohio
soon will extend to the entire country
This would involve general hardship
and suffering upon al classes Of con-
sumers everywhere throughout the ma
tion. from the individual who uses btu
minous coal 10 heat his home TO the
great manufacturing and public uuilty
plants. go,
on hand 81 any place in the country 10
continue long the operation OF the mu-
milton plants, upon which the govern
rnent is dependent, or the street rail-
gavs. the gas light, heat. power, water
and other plants which must have Di-
luminous coal Il they continue 10 oper-
ate. o.,
Print paper mills also VIII close
down. i'm some instances within lew
dsvs, unless there is immediate rellel'
Newspapers depending on these mltls
for supply sre confronted by the proO-
ability. unCer a continuance o. the
present conditions. Of having 10 sus-
pend publication.
"In the face Of tins critical sltua.
ton the bituminous coal producers o.
the country have been and are now un-
able 10 run their mines 10 capacity pc
cause OF the insufficient supply OF rail
road cars.
100000 Tons Lost in a Week
Reports Of the United States Geo
logical Survey covering the month OF
November show that production OF d.
luminous coal was curtalled al ieast
100000 tons through the inability OF
the railroads 70 provide adequate trans
portation facilities. During the week
ended November - these reports show
Unanimous coal mines produced only
74e per cent Of the amount they were
able 10 produce. The government re-
pot shows that car shortage was re-
tLs.nsible for the loss in production
dsfing this one week Of more than
::0O 900 tons.
"The recent order issued by the pri-
ority committee, while a step in the
right direction. does not afford by any
means the cooperation which the btu
minous coal operators must have # the
serious consequences Of the fuel fam
IT,. facing the country are to be
averted.
"The situation resolves itself into
this: Bituminous coal operators can
and will produce millions of tons more
coal IL a way can be found TO furnish
Transportation facilities TO enable the
miue5 70 operate fully instead Of 10 per
cent capacity. We have pointed out
what we believe 10 be the way to en-
ao.t US 20 do this.
''Until the orders are issued supply
ing the mines with sufficient cars there
Is little likelihood that the present
en- teal situation will be greatly re-