Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-12-22
CAUSE OF THE
COAL SHORTAGE
From Dayton Labor Review

Many persons do not yet under
stand the reasons that led up to the
present coal shortage. They are
blaming the government, the rail
roads, the operators, the dealers and
the city, although not certain just
what is the cause, or how the shortage
is to be ended.
The coal operators, and the coal
dealers, assisted by dilatory con-
gress are the cause.
Conservation of fuel is the only
remedy. Those who have no coal
will get a limited quantity. Those
who have coal must use it SO as to
secure the maximum amount of heat.
The whole story of the coal situa-
tion may be told in this wise:
Last fall the coal operators
thought they saw an opportunity to
increase the price of coal, using the
war as an excuse, and double and
treble their profits. The coal dealer
entertained the same views, and as
a result the consumer paid SO to $40
per ton for his coal. The situation
became uncomfortable, but the coal
people had become mad in their de-
sire for more profits, and would not
lower prices. Relief was then prom
ised through legislation, and the
Lever bill, giving the president the
power to fix prices, was introduced
last April, with the request from Mr..
Wilson that it be made an emergency
measure and passed Immediately.
Congress responded to this request
by dallying with the measure all
summer and enacting it into law on
August 10th. While the wise law
makers were indulging in talk tests
and other stimulants the people were
waiting for the law that would lower
the price of coal, and they would not
order their winter supply at the eX-
orbitant prices. AS a consequence
! little coal was mined or transported.
The northwestern coal supply is
usually shipped up the lakes during
the months of June, July and August.
| The people of the northwest, like the
people in Ohio, would not allow the
operators to rob them, so no coal was
shipped during the summer months.
Then came the passage of the
Lever bill, government fixing OF
prices at the mines and the rush Of
orders. A surprise was sprung when
the government announced that all
contracts entered into with the Op-
orators previous to August 10 would
be allowed to stand at the price
called for in the contract. Then 1t
was discovered the operators books
were filled with orders at prices
ranging from So to S. per ton, al
though week or ten days before no
coal was being mined or transported.
When the government took control
it's first concern was to supply the
northwest before lake traffic closed.
This caused the priority order which
shut off the output of the mines
from Ohio and other states. The
present shortage of this territory
can be measured by the number OF
cars of coal standing on the railroad
sidings and at lake terminals in Ohio.
Each ton of coal that is now being
diverted to Ohio cities means that
much of a shortage in some other
section. Every coal car owned by the
railroads is in service, but it was I'M
possible in two months to transport
the amount of coal that it ordinarily
requires six months to move. That
is what the railroads were called
upon to do.
If the coal operators could have
been satisfied with reasonable profits
no such condition would exist. If
they had not been intoxicated and
blinded by the desire for huge profits
the northwest would have had an
ample supply early in the summer
and the needs of Ohio could have
been taken care of with ease. If
congress had passed the Lever bill
last spring the government would
have seen that all needed fuel was
moved during the summer months.
For the cupidity, asininity and stu
pidity of this trinity of interests
the coal operator, the coal dealer and
congress- the people of America are
suffering all the horrors of coal
famine.