Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-20
FUEL BOARD WILL
PAY MINES VISIT
County Committee Decides TO Inspect
Banks ut Goal Valley in Attempt
to Stimulate Production.

In an attempt to stimulate the pro-
duction Of coal at the banks in this
locality, members OF the Rock Island
county fuel board at their meeting
yesterday afternoon at o'clock at
the Moline city hall decided to pay a
visit, perhaps tomorrow, 10 the mines
at Coal Valley.
1t is the belief Of the committee that
larger consumption of bank coal
would go a long way i'll solving the
fuel problem for the county Several
difficulties have been encountered by
the operators however. and ii is for
the purpose of discussing these and in
the hope that some solution Of them
can be reached that it was determined
/ TO make d personal trip of investiga-
ton
/ The chief trouble has been in Sc
curing iaborers, Although the opera
I tors are paying unusually high wages
+ miners can hardly be secured, and il
/ is claimed that the owner OF one OF
the largest mines at Coal Valley pro
/ poses to sell his property at The first
opportunity SO unsatisfactory has he
found the labor situation
More coal haulers have also beer
greatly needed Bank coal sells al
considerably less than other grade;
of fuel, but the trouble has been il
getting it delivered Drivers are com
PEELED TO stand in line half the
night in order to get a good place il
line when the coal is given out in the
morning
Some feasible plan for the bette
delivery Of coal to Moline and Rocl
Island is desired and the fuel boaFt
expects 10 take this phase of the mat
ter up, not only with the mine owners
but with a committee from the mel
who have been doing the hauling 0
coal
4 schedule whereby each drive
would be given d specific time a
which he should cali for his coal is on
: Of the suggestions of the committee
which would do away with the lone
tedious night yigiIs which have bee
necessary heretofore in order TO &c
: an advantageous place in Fine
1t is wall known that three times a
much hank coal could be sold in tn
two cities than is now mined There
q great market for the product if NOR
,0f if can he gotten ont of the groun
each day and swifter and more con
yenient method Of delivery is found
The committee figures that If NOR
bank coal is used, then less Frankli
county and Springfield coal will be rs
o CURED for this county This will al
low the shipment of the latter grade
Of fuel 10 the steai companies an
other concerns which are maxim
ships munitions and other war r.
n quirements for Uncle sam II vi
+ also mean A release of coal cars whic
@ will relieve the transportation congez
i ton and in this way if each count
/ viii urge the use of coal in its 0w
jurisdiction it is thought the coal 81
r uation can be greatly improved I'll
r definite instructions TO the count
fuel board are banks doing a WACO
/ business are to he encouraged an
production stimulated
At the meeting yesterday II w
> found that only a dozen out Of 4
i dealers in The county had submitte
. data which the government is requi
q ing relative to the amount of busine.
= being done and other facts. Until a
Of the blanks have been returned lit
,f can be done toward establishing T
l tail price for coal