The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19
SOFT COAL OUTPUT
STILL ON DECREASE
Effects of Presidents Appeal
Will Show in Next Re-
ports by Survey.
CAR SHORTAGE A FACTOR
Kentucky Fields Suffer Most
by Lack Of Transporta-
ton Facilities.
CAR SHORTAGE A FACTOR
Special pespatcn 10 The sux.


WASHINGTON. Aug. 1s.--The weekly
production Of soft coal. which climbed to
the highest point in the history OF the
country a month ago. showed a decrease
for the fourth successive week in reports
received by the Geological Survey last
week. The reports cover the output OF
the mines for the week ended August 10.
The effect which the appeal OF Presi-
dent Wilson to the mine owners and
workers for greater output at the
mines has had on the production are not
yet apparent. The appeal was issued on
August ~, and Its effect on production
will be seen in the next reports received
by the Geological Survey.
The loss which is shown in the reports
for the week of August 10 amounts TO
2Is,oo0 tons. as compared with the week
closing August 3. The total production
Of soft coal was 12.274,o0o tons for the
last of the four weeks ended August
10, against 12,552,o00 tons for the first
Of them. The number Of cars OF soft
coal carried was 2l5,9a6. and 36,s67
cars OF anthracite coal were moved.
Production for Week.
The production for the week was 1915
per cent Of the maximum capacity OF
the bituminous mines. The percentage
OF loss totalled c0.4 per cent. OF this
1915 per cent. was from car shortage
at the mines for loading purposes as
per cent. from labor shortage and
strikes, 80 per cent. from mine dis
ability and accidents, and . per cent,
from other causes.
The heaviest loss from car shortage
was In the Kentucky fields, where It
amounted to from 25 to SO per cent.
The car shortage in the Fairmont region
Ct West Virginia, where much OF the
coal for Government plants and NUM-
tons works is being produced. was IS
TO % per cent. OF the capacity Of the
mines.
The production of by-product coke,
the shortage in which has been so alarm
ing that fears were expressed here last
week that the war supply programme
might be seriously disarranged, showed
slight improvement. Practically all
Of the coke used in the manufacture of
war munitions in steel mills is by
product coke.
Output Of Coke Plants.
The total output Of this coke. accord
ing TO the weekly report received by the
Geological Survey covering the period
from July % to August 3. showed the
plants running at 81 per cent OF their
capacity The total amount turned out
during the week ending August was
53o.6i2 tons, against a production during
the previous week of 523.s tons. The
maximum capacity of the by-p-oducts
coke plants is about $4,000 tons
week.
The production OF beehive coke for
the week ending August 10 was S02, 900
tons. a decrease compared with the pre-
rious week OF 1900 tons. The total
production in the Couneilsville and
Greensberg districts in Pennsylvania
was 35S.s2s tons, which covers 20 per
cent OF the operating capacity Of the
coke ovens. Shortage in yard labor, due
10 inability OF the oven owners to secure
men TO work around the furnaces during
the hot weather. is given as the reason
for the decrease.
The beehive ovens Of the country
were operated during that week at only
As per cent. Of their capacity, of which
car shortage >caused - per cent Of the
loss and labor shortage another % per
cent.