The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-22
Establishment Of Zones Puts
End to Long Hauls for
Nations Fuel.
TO EQUALlZE DEMAND
New Move Assures PrOduc-
ton During Summer
Months by All Mines.

Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
states will be dependent for bltumi
nous coal except for special purposes
on coal mined in Montana. Wyoming,
Colorado New Mexico. Utoh, Oregon,
and Washington, according to the an
nouncement made by United states
Fuel Administrator II. A. Gart.aid. in
establishing western zone.
THE coal producing fields in thes"
states are easily able to care for the
requirements Of consumers in this ter
rtory," says the fuel administration.
In connection with the establish
ment of a zone which is to make II
possible for the mines OF the state of
Montana to operate at full capacity
throughout the entire year. the follow
ing telegram has been received by
w. j. Swindlehurst, fuel administrators
FOR Montana:
Zone System Effective April I.
The United states fuel administra-
ton in CO. operation with the director
general Of railroads, announces the
completion Of the zone system to gov
ern distribution of bituminous coal
during the coal year beginning April
!. The general effect Of the system
IL to restrict eastern coal to eastern
markets and to fill the vacancy in the
central and western states with near
by coal produced in those states. The
system viii eliminate the movement
OF more than 100000 tons OF Poca-
hi ntas coal TO Chicago over haul of
$50 miles. This tonnage Of coal must
be secured by Chicago from Southern
Illinois mines with an average haul
of 312 miles. There will thus be saved
about l1,400,000 car miles, permitting
additional production of 100000 tons OF
Pocahontas coal
Assures Summer Production.
Heretofore many Of the mines in
many of the producing districts
throughout the country have been UNI
able to keep up their production in the
summer months because of the de-
creased demand for their product.
Under the zone system. these produce
ing districts have been allotted con-
suming territory which will demand n
large increase in production. Con-
Sumers in these zones must fill their
coal bins during the summer and
keep these mines running every day of
the week. il these zones are to avoid
q serious shortage next winter. The
early buying Of next winters coal by
consumers throughout the country is
considered imperative by both the
United States fuel administration and
the director general of railroads.
Keep Central Coal at Home.
THE zone system as it affects the
territory In which your jurisdiction Is
particularly interested has the fol-
lowing applications: The proposed
coming plan for bituminous coal will
prohibit the movement of coal from
the producing districts in Iowa. Mis-
souri,, Kansas. Oklahoma, Arkansas
Texas and fields east Of the Mississippi
river into the states of Washington
Oregon. California, Nevada, Idaho
Utah. Arizona. Montana, Wyoming
Colorado and New Mexico. These
Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
bituminons coal except for specia
purposes on coal mined in Montana
Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
Washington and Oregon. The Goa
producing fields in these states are
easily able to care for the require.
mcnts of consumers in this territory
Those fields east of the Rocky noun.
tains. particularly those in Colorado
New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana
will have surplus coal for shipment
10 the east as far as Missouri rive,
points.
The restrictions placed by the zon
Ing system on the movement of east,
ern coal west of the Missouri river Il
expected to provide these Rocky noun.
tain coal fields with largely increased
market"