Evening star., 1918-01-12
TESTIFY MORE COAL
CAME HERE IN 1917
Dealers Say Supply Greater
Than 1916, But Consumption
Also Increased.
BIG POPULATION IS CAUSE

Testimony showing that the receipts
of coal, both anthracite and bituminous,
during 1917 had been far in excess of
the receipts of 1916 was given today
before the Senate manufactures COM
'nittee investigating the coal shortage.
Emphatic denial was made that hoard
ing of coal by citizens of the District
was the cause of the trouble here.
The reasons for the coal shortage
in Washington today were given as in
creased consumption due to increased
population, and the failure to obtain
sufficient shipments.
The assertion was made by William
King. a local coal dealer. that if the
wholesale and retail dealers were al
lowed to carry on their business as
usual they would be able to handle
the situation for Washington.
In addition to Mr.. King the witnesses
heard today were w. w. Griffith
another Washington dealer and Arthur
ministration.
Familiar With Distribution.
Arthur s Learoyd Of thesfuei aaminis-
tration waa the first witness on the stand
today. H6 Is connected with the depart
ment Of apportiorment and distribution.
distribution Of anthracite for the fuel ad-
ministration and that since 1901 he had
had charge Of coal distribution for the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western COM
pany: He gave the committee a list of
the main anthracite coal producing COM
panies. including the so-called railroad
coal companies These companies. he
said. mined 1896 per cent Of the an
thracite coal. and the railroad companies
about 1886 per cent. The President. he
said, fixed prices for the coal at the mine,
allowing the independent companies rs
cents ton higher than the railroad COM
panies. basing the differential on the cost
Of production. For instance, he said, the
price Of white ash stove coal for the rail-
road coal companies was $40 a ton and
$5.45 for the independent.
Senator Reed asked about the costs of
production: how they were arrived at.
Mr.. Learoyd replied the figures had
been supplied by the mines to the fuel
administration. Rembrant Peelle and J.
p. Neal. now connected with the fue]
who had to do with price
fixing of coal. were prominent coal
operators for years, he said, in answer
to questions Of Senator Reed.
Gives Anthracite Location.
where do the anthracite mines lie?
asked Senator Reed.
SIN the northeast section of Pennsyl-
vania In a comparatively narrow terri
tory" the witness said. There is an IN
amount of anthracite
mined in the west"
Where has this anthracite coal found
a market price to the last year," asked
Senator Reed.
New Jersey. Canada and as far south
as Washington in considerable magni.
tude: Ohio. Indiana. Michigan, Illinois
and the northwestern states of Wiscon-
sin. Minnesota and North and South
Dakota and west of the Mississippi tc
Nebraska" said the witness, ''in the
order named"
What was the production of Anthra
cite coal in 1916 and 1912" asked Sen
ator Reed.
the commercial shipments were $780,.
600 tons, and for 1917. 71,4OO,0OO," said
Mr.. Learoyd which is an increased pro-
duction of IA per cent
Senator Reed asked about distribu.
tion of anthracite in 1917 and previous
years.
Shipments for Twelve Months.
"In New England, from January 1 te
December 81, 1916, the shipments were
I, ,300 900 tons. and for the same period
in 1917. 100000 TONS" the witness said
Senator Reed said his purpose was tc
discover II any unusual shipments were
made to any particular field.
Mr. Learoyd said that figures had beer
compiled showing that from Now Hamp.
shire to Wisconsin the distribution had
been fair.
.What was the amount of coal. an.
thracite. shipped to Washington in 1915
Land 1917" asked Senator Reed
1.-THE coal year begins April l." said the
! witness. From April to January i, 1916
the anthracite shipped to Washington wa,
2s4 900 tons. and for the same period ir
1917, 396. 6.00C.''
Senator Lodge suggested that The
very large population increase here ant
F., the occupancy of many houses hat
! caused greater demand for coal. The
witness agreed there were reasons 70,
! increased demand here.
| The very large proportion of the in
| crease to Washington, he said, was II
Z, the months from April ! to October i
| The increase in the coal brought her,
in those months was approxima tel,
| $4,000 tons.
He said it was wise to get the coa
| delivered in the summer months an,
| to have it sent to the cellars of tn,
consumers-so as to relieve the sit
| uation in winter and enable the Goa
operators and railroads to do a re~ula,
business.
$50 there is really no wickedness in
| volved In shipping coal from the mine
and selling 1t TO the consumer durin,
the summer" said Senator Reed.
\ thing to do. on the other hand"
He said he thought there had beer
livery little boarding among the citixeni
lof Washington.
The troable had been that tho citi
! Continued on Second Psssl
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