Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-12
SCARCITY OF COAL
SERIOUS PR0BLEM
Famine Will BE Avoided II Miners
Work Full Time. Six Days
Il Week
PRESIDENT MAKES APPEAL
Tells Those Engaged in Industry
Existing Scarcity Is Creating GRAY,
Danger - Production Must BE
Stimulated.

IS-"r'"! 20 The 'i'ine .DisrI'..h
WASHINGTON, August ll.--Presi-
dent Wilson. in "A proclamation address
dressed to all. those engaged in coal
mining" to-day called upon every man
connected with the coal industry--the
highest official to the youngest boy
TO give his hest work each day for
the full number of work days" so that
the threatened fuel famine in the
United States may he avertcd The
President declares that the scarcity of
coal is the most serious problem now
confronting the nation in perfecting
its great war machinery. Production,
ne says, must be stimulated
Ii the coal miners work the full eight
hours per day. six days week. IL is
believed that the coal famine Will be
avoided. There are many reports
reaching Washington that thousands of
miners only put in three or four days
week.
The Presidents proclamation Is as
follows:
To All Those Engaged Ia Coal Mining:
The existing scarcity or coal Is ere
ating grave danger-in fact. the most
serious which confronts us-and calls
for prompt and vigorous action on the
part Of both operators and miners.
Without an adequate supply our war
program Will be retarded the effective
ness Of our fighting forces in France
viii be lessened. the lives of our SOL
diers VIII be unnecessarily endangered
and their hardships increased. and
there will be much suffering in many
homes throughout the country during
the coming winter.
Il am we'll aware that your ranks
have been seriously depleted by the
hraft. by voluntary enlistment and by
the demands of other essential indus
tries. This handicap can be overcome.
however. and sufficient coal can be
to
nected with the industry. from the
highest official TO the youngest boy
Will give his best WORK each day for
the full number OF work hours. The
operators must be Jealous as never be-
tore to bring about the highest eficlcn-
cy OF management. To establish the
best possible working conditions and
10 accord fair IRE thent TO everybody
SO that the oppo Unity TO work at his
best may be acco. I'D evt"y workman
The miners shoulG rel rt for WORT;
every day, unless prevented by un-
avoidaele causes. and should not only
stay in tho mines the full time, but
also see 10 it that they get out more
coal than ever before. The other work
ers in and about the mines should work
IS regularly and faithfully SO that the
work OF the miner may not be retarded
in any way. This will be especially
necessary from this time forward for
your numbers may be further lessened
by the draft. which will nduct into
the army your fair share OF those not
essential TO industry. Those who are
drafted. but who are essential will! be
given deferred classification. and II is
their patriotic duty to accept it, Ana
1t is the patriotic duty of their friends
and neishbors to hold them in high re-
gard for doing So The only worker
who deserves the condemnation Of his
community is the one who fails to give
his best in this crisis: not the one who
accepts deferred classified ton and
works regularly and diligently to in