The Washington herald., 1918-07-21
gCOALMUST BE
SAVED THOUGH
OUTPUT GROWS
Fine Efforts of Producers
Demand Support, Say
Fuel Chiefs.

The lightless nights that will descend
upon the land next week and make
dark the once white ways Of the big
cities will come as a patriotic OBJ
servance as much as for the purpose
Of conserving fuel
II is true that the lightless nights
are expected to save at least $4,000
tons OF coal annually, but that amount
represents hardly more than the in
crease in production for one week. ac-
cording to the latest reports from
the coal fields. The operators and
miners are straining every effort to
meet the war demand and are con-
stantly reporting all records smashed
in the production OF coal.
Because these men are making this
sacrifice. and because the drive
against a coal famine next winter
calls for every possible aid from the
people, the Fuel Administration Is en-
tirely out Of sympathy with any and
all nonessential consumption Of even
a ton of coal.
This drive for the winters supply
of coal. in support OF the drive on
the other side. is giving promise OF
complete victory. The Railroad Ad-
ministration was able to announce
yesterday that there is no car short
age for coal and will be none unless
some extraordinary weather condi-
tions. like those which prevailed for
a while last winter, should tie up all
movement Of cars.
Furnish Plenty of Cars
The friendly rivalry between the
railroads and the miners in the pro-
duction and distribution of coal has
been distinctly on the miners side
since the beginning of the war.
They expected to keep ahead of the
railroads. but the Railroad Admin
intration announces that it is now
ahead in the race and that cars
are waiting at the mines to be
loaded.
This announcement surprised no.
body more than the Fuel Admins
tration- 1t is an incredible achive-
ment to them. but the Railroad Ad-
ministration says the cars are there,
and If the Fuel Administration does
not belive il. all it has to do is to go
take a look.
All rail movement OF coal has been
progressing so rapidly that all
danger of a shortage in certain Sec
tions of the country can be said to
have been ayerted. Coastwise and
rail-and-water movements have not
been so good. New England needs
coal more than any other part of
the country, and the Fuel Admin
istration is doing everything possi-
BILE to push coal into this impOr-
tant manufacturing district while
weather conditions are good.
Submarines Caused Furry.
The U-boat furry of the Virginia
Capes caused the program of ship
ments to falter for a while, but they
are again going forward at a better
than normal pace. The cargo car
riers of the Shipping Board now
being completed on the Atlantic
Coast. the Gulf and in the Great
Lakes are being put into the coal
trade as fast as suitable vessels
are ready. and many of these boats.
notably the Tuckahoe. are smash
Ing all records in loading and dis
charging coal and in the length OF
round trips to New England points
from the coaling ports.
There is a high spirit of optimism
at the Fuel Administration over the
outlook. but that does not mean
that every effort will not be bent
TO save every pound of coal that is
not actually required for war work.
essential industry. health and COM
fort.