Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-11
COAL OUTLOOK
MUCH IMPROVED
Warmer Temperature and
Thaws Render Conditions
More Encouraging

Shamokin, Pa, Feb. IL. - The
week just ended has marked the
breaking of the anthracite coal
blockade and, with decidedly more
moderate temperature, accompanied
by several thaws that served to re-
plenish to some degree the water
service for the colliers, the anthra-
cite outlook is more encouraging to-
day than at any time during the
past two months. Railroad and min
ing officials are confident that, with
continuance of moderate tenn
perature during the next week, the
shipments of badly needed coal for
industrial and domestic purposes
will go forward with a regularity
that will establish new records.
The reorganization of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Railway staff
of superintendents and train dis
patchers has had the effect of stabi-
lizing what has grown to be de-
moralized condition of railrad serv-
ice. Assistance given the Reading
by the New York Central lines in
providing number of its big en-
gines. with crews has been the
means of opening the coal and
freight blockade in the Williamsport
and Newberry yards, thus permitting
the shipment west of great quanti-
ties of anthracite. Through trains
from Newberry to the Reading re-
lieved tho intermediate yards along
the Shamokin and main line divi-
sions and railroad men declare that
but for the communicating by the
government railroad directors of the
New York Central motive power the
Reading system would have continu-
ed in a state of chaos for week or
more.
Railroads Efficient
AS it stands to-day, the Reading
is capable of handling eXpeditiously
any quantity of coal that can be
mined Empty cars are coming back
into the region in long trains and
the weekend found each colliery
supplied with a full complement of
cars. The below-zero weather of
the fore part of the week served to
temporarily curtail anthracite pro-
duction but with the moderation
came renewed activities at the mines
and attendant record production.
The coal in thS clogged breasts and
gangways has been started mining
has resumed n normal basis and the
situation is decidedly more encourag-
ing from every viewpoint.
On Systematic Basis
Never in the history of the an
lHTdClle region mas mining Deen OH
the systematic basis of the present.
Where large forces of men were en-
ployed in doing repair work, the
staff has been cut to a minimum.
The continued shortage of labor ne
cessitated drastic action looking to
the cutting of coal to fill orders that
mining executives declare will keep
the collieries working full time for
the next ten months.
To this end all repairmen with the
exception of those incapacitated from
active mining, were informed that
they could make their selection of
working places for the purpose OF
cutting coal. A number rebelled al
returning to coal cutting and quit
the collieries, but in the majority OF
cases, they either returned to the
collieries at which they had been en-
ployed or sought work as miners at
other collieries. The result has been
that fully ten per cent. more men
than had been engaged in actual
mining during the last four months
are now assisting the last fouI
months are now assisting in supply
ing the needs of the nation.