Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-25
IOWA's ARGUMENT
ON FUEL QUESTION
SIST OF PROTEST FILED WITH
ADMINISTRATORS GARFIELD
AGAINST ZONE SYSTEM.
SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS
OF IOWA COAL DEALERS
Domestic Supply Insufficient to Meet
Needs and Hawkeye Product Un-
suited for Early Storase-PIea of
Dealers for Price Regulation Also
Submitted to Fuel Administrator.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Cedar Rapids, March 25.-Having
returned from its conference with Fuel
Administrator Garfield, al Washington,
the committee named to present the
difficult problems with regard to
coal supply has given out the text OF
the argument presented, with ref
ence to the proposed change in the
zone system, as well as the details Of
the discussion OF price and quality Of
anthracite and bitumincus coal and
coke. The members of the committee
were Governor w. L. Harding. Charles
D. Webster, Iowa fuel administrator;
w. G. Shepard OF Harlan: A c, John
son, Of Dubuque, and Senator W. G.
Haskell Of Cedar Rapids.
The committee submitted TO Admin
istrator Garfield the resolutions adopt.
ed at meeting Of more than 100 rep
resentative Iowa coal dealers, at
Cedar Rapids. on March :, in which
it was urged that the fuel administra-
sure to the people of Iowa the normal
amount OF tonnage from Indiana and
Illinois that will naturally be required
for the period Of one year; that Iowa
shall receive a tonnage Of anthracite
from Pennsylvania equal to that which
was shipped during the past two years,
and that bituminous coal from West
Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio be per-
81. -h-,- ,Ia 10 r'- &C
ta.blished channels of distribution with
as little government restrictions as
possible during the months of April,
May, June, July, August and Septem-
Der.
The coal mentioned are the grades
the consumers Of Iowa in the past
have been in the habit OF storing early
and the grades they win continue to
buy early II given an opportunity.
Arguments Against Restrictions.
The committee referred to the pro-
posed restrictions and the recommen-
dalton of the federal fuel adninistra-
ton that Iowa be required to stock
early with Iowa coal, and contended
that 1t would be impossible to comply
with the recomm endations for the fol-
lowing reasons
First: Iowa coal can not be sue
cessfully stocked during the summer
months. The degradation and shrink
age resulting from the storing of Iowa
coal in the early spring and Inidsum
mer are great oftentimes reaching as
high as 80 per cent when placed in
storage for domestic purposes.
Second: According to the best fig
ures we have been able to secure, 50
per cent OF tho Iowa coal in the past
has been sold to the railroads, 20 per
cent to the Industrial plants, Is per
cent for domestic purposes. within the
state, and 5 per cent shipped outside
the state. As above stated, approx
ma4e1y half Of the coal consumed in
1cva has been or can be produced IN
ths state; II it were to be considered
on B. T. Q. basis, it would be less
than one-third Of the coal consumed
in the state.
1.-THE high sEpher content OF Iowa
coal renders il, when stored, subject
to spontaneous combustion; hence a
serious danger to property and a cost
ly fire risk.
I'VE, therefore, urge that no restric-
tons be made against the shipment Of
that shipments Of bituulinous coal
from West Virginia, Kentucky and
Ohio be permitted to low thru the
regularly established channels Of dis
tribution in quantity substantially
equal to the tonnage shipped during
the season Of 1915, 1916 and 1917, up
to, and including, the the month Of
September, at which time shipment
from the last mentioned territory
might be reduced If conditions then
seem to Justify such action.
1T has been suggested that the sur
plus coal, needed for Iowa, come from
the southwest and west territory, As
we view this subject, we are satisfied
that if attempt Is made to thus fur
nish Iowa's shortage Of coal from the
southwest and west, we will find our
selves next fall without any coal
stored and great hardship will result
to the people and industries Of the
state We base this conclusion upon
the following facts:
First: The haul from this south
western territory IS much greater than
from the territory east Of the Mis-
sissippi river
Second: The natural flow Of freight
is east and vest and not north and
south. II an attempt we're made 70
haul coal from the southwest and west
territory it would mean a. long empty
haul.
Third; Effort should be made TO
disturb as little as possible the usual
and ordinary course Of trade.
Fourth: It would require all Of the
summer months TO make the neces-
sary shipping arrangements and best
connections, We would De without any
coal stored during these months forced
to make this long unnatural haul dur
Ing the winter months TO the great in
convenience Of the transportation ia
cilities Of the country.
Fifth: The southwestern and west
ern coal is unknown to both domestic
and commercial users in Iowa. 1t is
5..nt prepared coal which they are ac-