Evening journal., 1918-10-29
coal PROBLEM
AT LAST SOLVED
Stocks Far in Excess of
Other Years, and Country
is Ready for Winter
LATE BUYERS
TO GET SHARE


WASHINGTON. d. c., Oct. 29.-Fuel
Administrator Garfield has announced
that the nations coal problem had been
solved. Stocks of coal are far in excess
OF former years, and the country Is
prepared for an unusually severe win
ter, should, it develop, he said. He
emphasized again, however, that coop
GRAFTON by the consumers in conserving
their supplies remains imperative.
Dr. Garfleld's statement, exhaustively
summarizing the situation as IL stands
with cold weather near al hand, said
statistics just compiled warranted the
following conclusions: The nations
fuel supplies are adequate and we'll dis
tributed for an unusually severe win
ter; although the needs are greater
than ever before, the coal stocks are
greater than ever in the nations his
tory; the coal delivery program laid
down by the Fuel Administration has
been exceeded; more domestic coal is
now in the hands OF consumers and
dealers than at this time in previous
years ;'for the country at large there Is
now on hand an average coal supply
sufficient for eight weeks; fewer miners
than in former years have produced
3S0OO,000 more tons Of coal in the first
half Of this coal year than in the cor
responding period Of 1917; the oil and
natural gas situation probably will be
acute because Of Increased demands and
transportation difficulties.
"As winter approaches" said DR.. Gar
field, the people Of the United States
desire TO know what they may expect
rom the Fuel Administration. and they
have a right to know. The experiences
Of last winter naturally tend 10 make
people apprehensive. While II Is not
likely that the coming season will be az
severe as last the Fuel Administration
has proceeded on the assumption that
itimight, be, and has made its plans 40
cordingly."
Taking up the situation as TO snthra-
cite. the domestic fuel Of the East. DR..
Garfield described how the zoning sys-
TEN had regulated the flow Of hard coal
such a way as to minimize the trans
fortation problem. The program for
distribution Of domestic anthracite fos
4 the entire year calls for 5i.255.029 tons,
: or more than 100000 more tons than
were distributed in 1916, the last nor
NAL coal year. Up to the first Of this
month 26,23s,i5i tons had already been
delivered, the delivery program being
exceeded by 759,i36 tons. Various
causes have prevented some consumers
getting their supplies, Or. Garfield
stated, but all should communicate the
circumstances TO The local administrs-
tors without delay, that machinery to
take care Of these cases may be put in
operation.
The estimated production OF bitumin-
Gus this year will be 6O0.0O0OO0 tons,
or 100000 more than last year.
Actual production in the first six months
was 3i2,262,0 tons, and by a postcard
report system the Fuel Administration
has been able to obtain for the first
time In the nations history an accurate
estimate Of where the coal Is stored.
More than 10000 such reports, coming
from consumers all over the country,
are tabulated daily.
These statistics show, said Or. Gar
field. stocks Of bituminOus now in the
hands Of industries. public utilities and
dealers are as follows: New York State.
six weeks supply; New Jersey. 10
weeks: Pennsylvania. : weeks; Connec-
ticut. II weeks. and Massachusetts, 70
weeks. All points diflcult Of access
in cold weather. such as the New Eng
land munition centres, have received the
large shipments.
The coke supply. vital TO operation Of
blast furnaces, IS slightly under the
maximum demanded by war industries,
DR.. Garfield stated. There has been lit
tie accumulation Of stocks, and distri-
button is being directed by wire from
Washington TO get maximum results.
The coke shortage is due TO the scarcity
OF labor at the ovens. The oil situation
IS acute. said Dr.. Garfield, through lack
Of transportation facilities and increased
domestic and overseas demands, and ac-
cordingly additional consumption must
be limited pending the building OF more
pipe lines. tankers and oil barges.
DR.. Garfield spoke appreciatively or
the fact that 3s,0O0.000 more tons OF
coal were mined in the first six months
Of this year than in the same period OF
1917, in spite Of the labor shortage in
the fields. Between $1,000 and 10000
and a like number have found better
mine workers have Joined the colors,
paying work. he said. This deficit has
been more than made up Dy the re-
sponse Of the miners TO the appeals TO
their patriotism, he said.
From the foregoing concluded the
Fuel Administrator. ut may be in
ferredf that the fuel situation is so well
in hand that vexing economies are no
longer necessary. But this is far from
true. Had less essential industries been
permitted TO operate without curtail-
ment Of fuel supply. the stocks on hand
would have been seriously reduced. We
have been able to stock up because we
have saved so well and because we have
produced more coal than at any other
time. In cooperation with other war
administrations, especially the War In
dustries Board and the Food Admins
tration, the Conservative Bureau has
made an estimated saving thus far of
i2,7o0,000 tons in the first half Of the
year."