Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-22
COAL PRODIJCTSHOWS
SERIOUS FALLING OFF
Critical Condition at Mines
Reported by Fuel Ad-
ministration
DUE TO LACK OF CARS
Decrease in Eastern and Middle
Fields Ranges as High as
SOL Per Cent
Washington. April %

w AhhinHloNs NBl %
That there is critical condition eX-
isting in tile coal-producing fields due
TO a lack of cars at the mines is shown
by a telegram received by the fuel ad-
ininistration from the Fairmont- -Clarks-
burg field i'm West Virginia. The telc-
gram reads:
Goal car supply Fairmont- -Clarksburg
region so very poor that miners are leaV-
ing by the wholesale rather than face
starvation with but a days work per
week. Advices from various sources in
dicate large number additional miners
will leave region after pay day; some
mines will lose their entire force This
will have a disastrous effect upon pro-
duction unless matter is taken in hand
at once and car supply is Immediately
Increased"
The situation in this field does not
differ materially from that existing all
through the more important coal fields
upon which the Industrial centers de-
pend for their fuel supply. The reports
for the week ended April show a de-
crease of production over the preceding
week Of 100000 tons. or IL per cent.
For the week ended March 80 the mines
throughout the country showed an aver
age loss Of production amounting to 23.3
per cent due to car shortage, The de-
tailed loss by coal fields was as fol-
lows:
In the fields of Illinois. Indiana and
Ohio the average loss due to car short
age was 22.6 per cent In one Of these.
che northern and central Ohio field, the
loss was 342 per cent
In the Pennsylvania fields the loss in
production due to car shortage averaged
32.4 per cent.
In the New River and Winding Gulf
and PocahontaS fields, which supply the
low volatile coal vitality needed by the
navy and thei merchant marine for
bunker purposes loss in production due
10 car shortage was 244 per cent
In the high volatile fields Of southern
West Virginia and the Fairmont the
average loss in production due to car
shortage was 50.3 per cent. The south
ern high volatile fields lost 41.G per
cent and the Fairmout fields 59l per
cent.
Cumberland Piedmont field showed a
loss of production Of 1876 per cent due
10 car shortage.
The mine fields in Kentucky. the
southern Appalachian fields and tho
southwestern Virginia fields showed an
average loss in production Of 29.7 per
cent due 10 car shortage.
On the other hand, in the Alabama
Kansas, Missouri. oklahoma. Arkansas
Iowa, Rock Mountain and Pacific coast
fields the car Service was within per
cent of normal Except for Alabama the
bulk of the output of these mines goes
into domestic consumption and is utilized
west of the Mississippi River 1t does
not enter into the transportation prob
lem in the congested eastern territory
The fuel administration is appre-
hensive lest "A continuance Of this con.
dition will result in depletion of the
mining fields OF labor as indicated by
the telegram quoted from the Fairmont
Clarksburg district. II is therefore de
voting its efforts toward procuring
correction Of the conditions that threatel
the coal supply during the coming
season.