New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-02-10
National Administration
Denies Exports RESPONSE
bic for Fuel Shortage
Bad Weather Helped
Miners Fell Short of Years
100000, 900 Goal, Gar
field Explains


unanimous coal, due to war industries;
.se shortage of transportation facili-
ties and the failure of mine operators
70 take as great a tonnage out of the
Ground as they had expected, are given
as the principal causes for the fuel
famine that has resulted IN partial sus-
nension of industries, IN a statement
issued last night by the National Fuel
Administration. =.
The statement declares that the esti-
mated production of bituminous coal IN
the United States during 1917 was 544,-
100000 tons-about 41000,000 tons
more than in 1916. The mine operators
had. however. set mark of 600 100000
tons as the years harvest, which was
made impossible by adverse weather
conditions at the mines.
Railroads Large Consumers
The largest consumers of bituminous
or soft coal are the railroads, accord
ing to the statement, and their increase
in consumption last year was between
$4,000 900 and 20,000,0o0 tons over 1916.
Coal used in coke making also showed
an increase of about 100000 tons. The
demands of manufacturing and indus
trial plants east of Illinois and north
Of Maryland, which ordinarily use up
about 60 per cent of the soft coal mined
in this region, increased between Ii
and Is per cent last year.
The national fuel administration de-
MES that expectation of coal was re-
sponsible for the shortage, as has been
charged. Returns from the Department
of Commerce for the first eleven
months of last year show that during
this period 19.647,671 tons of soft coal
we're exported. This is only about
100000 tons more than this country
exported in the first eleven months of
1916.
Canada was the largest buyer of btu
mlnous, receiving nearly 100000 tons.
Reports charging that exports to Italy
were responsible for the shortage are
proven false by the figures of the De-
partment of Commerce, showing that
that country during the first eleven
months of last year, less than one-third
Of the exports to Italy during the CORE
spending period in 1916.
Shortage Acute Upstate
The fuel administration states tina.
there cannot be much curtailing of soft
coal exports to Canada this year, but it
is pointed out that the War Board has
pledged itself to be strict in the appli-
cation OF its authority to grant licenses
for coal exports.
The pressure on the whole fuel stua-
ton was greatly lessened yesterday
Throughout the East. although New York
City did not profit by the freer railway
movements. County Administrator
Reeve Schley stated that about $4,000
tons Of anthracite came into the city
during the day. This is at least 10000
tons less than greater New York burns
at this time of the year. But more coal
is promised in the near future.
The worst news of the day came from
upstate points, where the gradual dimi-
mutton of coal during the past several
weeks has finally reached a danger
point just as relief is in sight Joseph A.
Hall, Deputy State Fuel Administrator.
said that 10000 tons of bunker coal,
received Thursday and Friday, had
been towed from tidewater and that
harbor conditions were improved. Most
of this had gone to New England. and
only a little to New York apartments
coal of late.
Freight Pressure Lessened
"The upstate conditions are very
bad" Mr.. Hall said. "Gas plants are
closing down, although we are still able
20 supply SlcCIIiC llSltI plants. ic
latter take different grade. which
is not so hard TO supply as the kind
used for gas manufacture"
The railroads continued to nibble at
the car congestion, and the weather re-
ports from most parts of the Eastern
railway districts indicated to Regional
Director A. H. Smith that great deal
of the congested freight will be cleared
out next week unless another blizzard
strikes.
There is now total Of 144,910 freight
cars east and westbound, loaded and
empty, stuck on the 220 railroad lines
of the Eastern district. and of this
formidable number the railroad cleared
cut a mere handful of 1856 cars yes
terday. 1t will take 1880 trains of fifty
cars each to clean up this mess OF traf-
tic stagnation.
Thirteen Steamships Bunkered
There were S21 cars of anthracite
and 484 cars of bituminous coal dumped
at tidewatcr yesterday, making total
of $4,000 tons. about enough for one
days consumption in the city, but near
ly half of it will go upstate and to New
England.
Thirteen steamships were bunkered,
leaving twenty waiting for coal. There
We're sixty-fve tugs reported out or
commission, nearly one-third of the
towing power in New York harbor.