Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-07-27
U. 5. FACING FAMINE IN
COAL, SAYS 3. e. CALVIN

WAA4SIAl MMAAG00 III bNf@ country
threatens the people and Industries
OF the United States. is the opsaion
Of d. n. Calvin, president Of the
Union Pacific railroad, as expressed
to a Tribune representative upon his
arrival In Salt Lake last Saturday
from the Pacific coast.
.I am much disturbed over the
fuel situation" declared Mr.. Calvin,
which, In my opinion, forms one OF
the biggest and most serious prob
LENS confronting the American gov
eminent and people today. 1t Is a
problem into which the national re-
sources Of the country do not enter;
1t is a question of production.
THE opening OF new mines. al ag-
itated in some quarters, will hinder
be entirely a hindrance to produc-
ton; 1t would only serve to further
divide the already meagre and far in
sufficient labor supply.
''To my mind there are but two
possible so1utions-the reduction to
the minimum OF the use of coal, or
q heavy increase in the labor supply.
/ am of the opinion that the reduc-
ton in the use OF coal would not en-
tireIyN solve the difficulty, but it
would help materially. The whole
matter rests upon production, which
depends entirely upon the labor sup
ply"
Mr. Calvin pointed out that the
mines Of Wyoming and Utah were
working practically 80 per cent un-
der capacity because OF the shortage
of labor.
1.-THE opening OF new Mines" he
said, would not increase the pro-
duction, but more likely would re-
duce the output by dividing the sup
ply Of labor now available to the al
ready developed properties. When
the mines already developed are
working to capacity and 1t Is then
found that the supply Of coal is in
adequate there will be ample time to
develop new properties. But even
then it would be far easier for the
developed properties to increase
their output than to put new mines
on an operating basis"
Mr.. Calvin presented report from
President William sproule OF the
Southern Pacific, chairman Of the
railroad war board or the western
district. showing that a concerted
movement ON the part OF the rail-
roads to increase the coal production
had resulted in an increase OF 165-
TOO cars of bituminous coal during
the month OF June. 1917. over the
month OF June year ago.
THE total output of bituminous
coal in the United States during the
month of June was 75O, s2s cara, ac-
cording to government reports. Mr..
Calvin said. ''The increase over
june q year ago was 156.7OO cars.
Estimating the average load OF each
car at IS tons, which is conservative
in the case of coal, the increased coal
tonnage would be 7.0O6, 500 tons.
"But ON account OF the enormous
increase in all lines of industry and
the heavy demand FOR fuel on the
part OF the government this enor-
nous coal output Is still inadequate
20 meet the conditions The short
age OF labor at the mines Is general
throughout the country. from what
can ascertain, and all or the mines
probably are working In the vicin-
ity of % to 80 per cent under ca
pacity.
Conditions are abnormal for this
season in so far as fuel lie concerned
and am Of the opinion that q capac-
ity output OF all mines for several
months 20 come will be almost ; me-
cessity IL q serious fuel shortage Is
to be prevented.
along the lines OF the Union Pa
cific have stopped the burning OF
old ties and timbera and they are be-
Ing conserved or uned in lieu of coal
wherever possible. i have had our
traffic men look into the rate situa-
ton with reference to placing wood
on the market and we are doing ev-
erything in our power TO make It
possible for the substitution OF wood
for coal as fuel In the territory We
serve.
"Some OF the railroads can nm
doubtedly save coal by taking OFT
some of the passenger trains. On an
average q passenger train will con-
sumo ton of coal to every fifteen
miles. As an illustration of the good
that can be done In this direction,
the elimination OF one train each
way daily between Salt Lake and
Pocatello would save $500 tons OF