The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-08-23


country is considerably below tn
program set by the u. S. Fue
Administration as marking. mini
mum at which the necessary wa
work could be carried on at tn,
rate of highest efficiency, the fac
remains that coal production ha.
reached higher point than evel
before in the history of the indus
try.
In a great many districts, botl
anthracite and bituminous, produc.
tion records have been broken, but
still production remains short of re-
quirements, by several million tons
The increased demand for coal for
the Navy reached almost one hun
dred per cent in July. Whereas
three and half million tons was al
lotted to the navy in April, the re-
quirements by the middle of July
had reached basis of six million
tons. By the end of the calendar
year 1919, it is estimated that ap-
proximately eight million tons will
be required to cover these demands.
With the launching of new ships,
the requirements of the Shipping
Board have likewise grown beyond
all expectation. When the annual
allotment was made, at the first of
April, ten million tons was assigned
for the purpose of the Shipping
Board. The actual requirements as
demonstrated by experience, and as
result of the phenomenal results
being achieved by the Shipping
Board, now place the figure at
thirteen million tons.
So also, coal for bunkering pur-
poses, at first estimated at thirteen
and half million tons, has grown
in demand until at present calcu-
lations call for twenty-one million
tons.
New industries, not in operation
at the beginning of the coal year.
are now running full tilt or are
about to start. From these come
demands of consequential proper
tions.
These new requirements alone rep
resent an annual consumption of
nearly million and half tons.
Aside from the increased require
ments here shown, originating from
new or enlarged plants, many old
plants, rated at the beginning of
the coal year for marked increases
of allowance over the consumption
of 1917, are now demanding still
more coal. Practically all the steel
plants and furnaces are running on
full time, twenty-four hours per
day. There are no suspensions of
operations save for repairs and
Overhauling of plants. In some in
stances the yearly coal require
ments were underestimated. In
many others, enlarged production,
under increased efficiency, has Gre
ated a demand for additional coal.
Invariably, increased steel produc-
tion calls for increased coal pro-
1uction. demanding about five tons
Of coal for each ton of steel pro-
1uced.
In response to appeals by Direct
or of Production James B. Neale of |
the United States Fuel Administra-
ton, the mine workers are making |
every patriotic sacrifice possible to
get out the coal. The ranks of the |
mine workers have been depleted |
by the draft and by voluntary en-
istment and, because earlier in the
year there was such marked short
age of cars so that the mine work
ers could not work steadily, num-
Ders of them drifted into other war
work and are lost to the mines.
On the other hand, the mine
workers who remain are doing their
part nobly. In a great many in
stances they have given up their
,arnivals and picnics so that work
may not be interfered with. They
have changed time-honored Gus
tom of attending the funeral of
,omrade- worker. killed in the line of
duty, which funerals always kept
the mine idle for a day, and, instead
are represented by committee. Old
men, long retired from active mine
work have voluntarily come out of
their retirement and ease and gone
hack to work to aid the government
in this crisis.
The drive has not all been directed
ot the mine worker; the coal oper-
ators also have been stronly remind
cd that they have very positive du-
ties to perform toward increased
In a letter just sent