The Washington herald., 1918-06-23

kept open. The United States Is the greatest
coal-producing country in the world Its pro-.
so1y That E Sf one VS. State s slon nm MIA
exceeded the combined output OF Great Bri-
tain and ireland for the same period-and
English coal production ranks next to that
of the United States in point of tonnage.
During the twelve months ending December
81. 1917, the bituminous coal mines Of this
country shipped between 525,ooo,ooo and $780,
100000 tons, and the anthracite figures. in
Gn this artie: ae biumnous Statistics ai IONS n
clude semibituminous, semianthracite, West
ern anthraeite,i and lignite) ~
Stupendous as these totals seem in COM
parison to the requirements of the individual
industrial or household consumer, they fell
short--far short in the case OF bituminous coal
.T-of reaching the maximum production capac-
ity of the existing collieries. Because this
shortage was between 100000 and Ioo,-
100000 tons, the householder was forced to
strange expedients in order to assure himself
of enough coal to keep warm, and the indus
trial buyer faced series of difficulties that
eliminated in the fuelless Monday order of
the United States Fuel Administration.
While part Of this failure Of the coal mines
to achieve the desired output is justly charge
able to labor shortages, and, in a very limit
ed way, to unavoidable disabilities in opera
ton, the fundamental cause was the break
down in transportation during the past win
ter. Contributing factors: which intensified
the situation by making the railroad burden
abnormal, were the price. agitation in the
spring and summer Of 1917: the uncertain
birth Of Federal regulation of the coal bust
ness of the nation, and the interference, both
governmental and private, with the old-es-
tablished agencies of distribution. Whether
this interference, or any part of it, was justi-
fable is not now at issue; consideration must
be given to 1t. however, as a cause. In one
form or another all of these elements had
their bearing upon the fundamental factor of
d1Efr ~k nVA
named still play a part; while others have
been modified or discarded for radical inno-
vation, clear understanding of the fuel prob
lem today must rest upon knowledge of
present and former distribution practices in
the commercial coal industry.
There are three major problems that en-
ter into the production OF coal: I. The abil-
ity of the operator or distributor to find
ing the mine to furnish cars for loading and
motive power to transport the coal to the
market; and, 3. A sufficient supply of labor at
the mine to dig and prepare the coal for
problems of distribution. Without the ability
to find a market, it is patent that the ability
OF the railroad to furnish equipment would
be valueless; on the other hand, a market
without transportation to supply it would be
a hollow achievement. Fundamentally, the
question OF labor. is purely. an operating
problem; it is only when the market de-
mands and the transportation facilities fur
nished are greater than the output available
that the labor question becomes one of dis
tribution. In other words, IL the market
demands will absorb and the motive power
and cars allotted will transport the maximum
shaft capacity of the mine, and the number OF
men employed at the eolliery is insufficient
to produce that capacity, then labor shortage
cuts down production.
The warning is timely. Householders WI
ed and prepare now to heat their homes II
inter will live again the old fable OF the gra.
opper and the ant.
Buy your coal now.