The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-10-19
Coal: INDUSTRY ESSENTIAL;
WAR ADDS new DEMANDS
Increase in Domestic Consumption and War Needs
Call for the Greatest Production in History
of United States.

BY WILLIAM GREEN,
Secretary Treasurer, United Mine
Workers TO America.
OF all essential war industries none
is more vital than the coal industry
1t lies at the very foundation of all
human activities and industrial enter
prise. In fact, transportation, manu-
featuring and all other forms of in
dustry depend for success upon the
coal industry. Great as the demands
are during peace time, war necessities
have AIDED thereto until now a Very
heavy burden is laid upon this basic
industry.
The increase in domestic consump-
tionfi in addition to our ever-1ncreas-
ing war needs, calls for greater pro-
duction of coal than ever heretofore
recorded in the history Of our coun-
try. 1t logically follows, therefore
that the thousands of mine workers
employed in and around the mines Of
America are the most important fac
tor in coal production. It is upon
them, more than upon-any other ele.
nent entering into the production OF
coal, that the people and the nation
must depend for the nations fuel
supply. The fuel demands of the ma
ton are so great that their individual
and collective energy must be exer-
cised to the limit or suffering would
be experienced among the civiilon
population and the success of oul
armies jeopardized.
Coal supplies the energy thai
makes for progress It is the power
behind the war machine. The move
nent Of machinery. manufacture OF
war munitions, sailing of ships and
transportation of troops are made
possible only by reason of an ade.
quate supply of coal. Behind all thu
is the army of mine workers giving
their service in mining and shipping
coal. Without their daring, skill and
service coal would remain hidden In
the recesses of the earth. How Won
derful and necessary is the part these
men play in the industrial, social and
national life!
Mine workers are deely sensible to
the task which the very nature OF
things imposes upon them. The de-
mand for production. has increased al
a tremendous rate. More and more
coal is the cry which comes to them
from all sections of America, as well
as from our soldiers across the seq
Figures on coal production show how
Fundamentally and periodically
lACy al = IcopO1u1uS ~ IIldL cry.
Coal production in 1917 was 554,.
72S,OOO0 tons. This was an increase
of 64,000,000 net tons over the pro
duction in 1916. The estimated re.
quirements for the year 1913 are
634,594,000 tons. Great as the pro
duction was in 1917 and marvellous
as was the increase shown over the
production of 1916, the mine workers
are called upon to supply 100000
more tons in 1918 than was produced
in 1917. No one except those closely
associated with the mining industry
can fully appreciate what this means
1t is practically impossible TO mine
| and ship this required increase ir
tons of coal during the year 1918.
very substantial part OF this Increase
! can be supplied if the railroads fur
nish cars to the mines so that thu
| mines can operate steadily. The max;
| mum mine production Of coal, espec
tally in the bituminous fields, ha
never yet ben reached because thu
railroads have not furnished a 10,
per. cent car supply. During many
weeks, the official records Of the fed
| eral fuel administration show, from
| l to Is per cent of mine idleness wa,
caused by car shortage. Tho mel
who mine the coal are in no way re
sponsible for this condition Of affairs
They can only work and serve whe1
railroad cars are furnished at tn,
| mines so that the coal mined can b,
| loaded.
Before the war there was en-
! ployed in and around the coal mine
! of the United States approximate!
| 100000 men. That number has nov
| been greatly reduced. More thar
10000 young men have been take,
| from ho to-
| around coal mines through the selec
tive draft for military and naval serv
ice. In addition, thousands NOR.
have secured employment in MUM
ton factories and other industrie
where wages and conditions of EN-
! ployment were more attractive. L
the anthracite coal fields there wer
employed, in normal times, abou
10000 men. Over 10000 have lef
the mines The working force in thi
important mining section has bee1
greatly depleted. It has reached
point where the decided shortage o
men is keenly felt
| we nave now, therefore, this sit
uat1on. A much less number Of me-
than were formerly employed in AM
around the mines are called upon t.
increase coal production S0,000,00'
TONS. A greatly reduced working fore
! - caileu upon to furnish an enOrn OH
increase in coal tonnage. Facing us
also, is the inevitable fact tina
thousands more men will be called TO
military and naval service through
the newly passed manpower act. TIL
productive capacity Of those remain
ing will be further taxed. It is quit
conclusive that their limit will , b.
! reached and that it will be Ah4olutel!
impossible, during the coming winter
| 70 mine and ship coal In sunieien
quantities to meet all requirements