Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
COAL PROBLEM SOLUTION
NOW UP TO THE RAILROADS
Developments Indicate That Demand
]. Equal To Output-Hnulirs Is
the Vital Question.

The Black Diamond. the coal trades
leading journal in its Saturday issue
says:
The solution OF the coal situation
was put up to the railroads again this
week by the development OF moro than
enough demand to take caro- of all
output IN all markets. Indeed the
. storage demand has become so strong
that il is doubtful If the coal mines
could supply it even with full car
supply. The people finally have taken
hold Of the situation and are trying
10 prevent recurrence of a famine
again next winter.
As indicating the strength OF the
demand AN interesting controversy has
come out OF New England. The steam
users have declared that preference
was being expressed for the movement
OF anthracite coal and that their equip
rnent was curtailed because the house
holders were being given storage coal
even To the exclusion of coal for plants
with government orders. They even
Went SO far as 10 say that If the gov
eminent didn't supply them with coal,
Of course they could not fill the orders
for war materials.
There Is no indication that the fuel
administration has unduly preferred
the anthracite buyers, but this Incl
dent merely shows the keen demand for
coal in the East. What is true in New
England as to demand Is almost equal
| ~ true In other Eastern sections. and
! it IS safe TO say that the market would
! absorb twice the present volume OF
coal If II were possible 10 move il.
The reports indicate that the rail-
roads arc struggling TO move more
coal but are hampered by the fact that
tho roads are conSested with freight.
This is emphasized by the point we
have made on several occasions, name
~, that transportation lines in that
section are not equipped to handle both
tho coal and the things made there.
from. a further simplifcation OF the
freight business in that district Will
have 10 be made.
In the West The demand Is not so
Keen as it Is in the East. hut il il suth-
cient to take care Of all the output az
sipni River IN the Ohio mississippi
Valley some mines recently were closed
down for lack of orders. The point l.
raridiy approaching when that can no
longer be said 10 he true. There is
still! livclicr movement Of coal west OF
the Mississippi and south OF the Mis-
souri,. hut reports from that district
show a very decided Improvement Ir
fact tho program 10 buy your coal early
ana 10 store coal which IL advocated by
All branches Of tho government has
taken nrm hold upon the people and II
IN" transportation can te supplied. tht
storage movement for this year will he
. most satisfactory. The most gratifying
/ part OF il from the standpoint OF the
retailer is that he is not permitted &c
accumulate any stocks on his yards
In fact. coal is going out as fast as Il
Is coming IN. The demand. therefore
, ie rom the ultimate consumer and no
( from the distributors.
III" one backward section OF tn,
market is the storage movement o
railroad coal. This Is held in abeyanc,
~ the railroad controversy over fue
prices which has not get been settled
u Gems possible. however. that thi
difficulty w!ll hc out Of the way in
Short MiiLn.