The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-21
Many War Industries in the
United States Are Affect
ed by Shortage
TRACES OF GERMAN
PROPAGANDA FOUND
Two Men Have Been Arrested in the
Pennsylvania Coal Mining Region
Charged with Trying to Stir Up
Trouble Among Miners.

Charged with Trying to Stir Up
Trouble Among Miners.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-The pro
duction of bituminous coal, as shown.
by the reports is still declining, and it
about 100000 tons above that of the
corresponding week of last year, when
one remembers that last years made
quacy and this years demands were.
made the basis for the estimated
amount of coal that must be proc iced
this summer. es.
According TO the reports furnished
the Fued Administration by the United
States Geological Survey, the bitumi-
nous coal produs tion for the week of
Aug. 10 was 27s,0Q0,O0O tons below
that of the previous week, and the
! fourth successive week of decreasing
production was recorded. 1t was
! 100000 tons below the record week
of July, when more than 100000
net tons were produced The amount
would have to be bettered every week
during the remainder of the summer
by more than 100000 tons, to make
up the deficit for the coal year
The output during the week, includ-
ing, Ignite and coal made into coke.
also is under that of the previous
week. The daily average production
fell $4,000 tons behind the daily sum
mer requirements established by the
fuel administration. Shipments de-
creased from all but three districts of
| the country. The bituminous, and es-
lpeeially the by:produets coal short
age, are seriously handieapping some
of the manufacturers engaged in i'm
Fpoftant war work, and the news that
fanthracite production has also fallor
Il behind is source of anxiety t,
householders who have not their sup
plies for the coming winter.
No new reasons are given for tn,
! decreasing production outside of tn,
old ones about labor shortage Mr.
llcAdoo deeently cleared the railroad
administration of responsibility b,
saying that the railroads were pre-
pared to move any amount of coal tina
/
A report has just been issued b,
the railroad administration showin
that more than 10000 coal cars hav
been received from the builders am
put into active service since Jan. ]
More than half of the freight ear
q of all kinds delivered to the road
: under government control have bee
coal ears. 4 large portion of tn
$97 100000 authorized for eonstruf
: tion of new sidings and industr
tracks were for spurs to coal mine.
This would seem to indicate that NJ
| MeAdoo had substantial evidence upo
which TO base his statement that tn
" coal shortage could not be laid at TIL
door Of the railroads.
5. Shipping, too, is falling in line i
assisting the speed transportation c
coal as fast as it is ready fer-shiI
ping. The speed-ship Tuckahoe. While
was built in 81 days, continues I
~ make wonderful time in CARRYING co;
from Hampton Roads to New Enolan
milking four round trips month ,sil
stead of the average of other collie
which has been two round trips
month. On her last trip the Tuekahc
went in and out of the port of Bostc
~ unloading her cargo of 5000 tons
70 coal all in 81 hours. Other collicrs no
- are doing good work too, in the Ne
~ England coal-carrying trade
= Traces OF German propaganda whit
thtfveobeen brought to the attention
tile fuel administration may have
,o4 bearing on the unsatisfactory co
X condition, although it is not so stat,
tx Thy the administration. Two men ha'
n been arrested in the Pennsylvania co
Is mining region charged with trying
stir mp trouble, and elsewhere di
loyal utterances and efforts to ma
the workers dfsaffeeted have been !
ported Efforts are being made
: Offset this by sending men charg
ri with the work of spreading allied pro
II aganda among the miners, but it
II difficult to get men to do this who II
II derstand the languages and the ways
II the men and who can be thorough
II trusted.
II Meanwhile the fuel administrati
II is devising methods of conservation
II make up for inadequate productiC
II One of the latest plans is that
II applying the skip-stop plan of the tn
II ley cars as is done in Washington a
II some other cAies. This, it is estimate
II win save about 100000 tons of co
II 1t is to be hoped that these estimat
II viii be more fully realized than tho
II of production are proving to
= er-saying devices, known as Goa
-, er recorders are to. be installed by
II traction company of Washington; "A
II devices for this purpose have alrea
II effected saving in Chicago, the fl
II administration reports.