Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-05
SITUATION As TO FUEL
RICHMOND AND BEYOND
Looks Now as IL Coal Shortage Will
BE Felt by Factories Instead
OF Households.
SUMNER BUYING HELPING CAUSE
domestic Consumers VIII Isc Largely
Out OF Way in Fall and Winter
fush-Evcn Then, Shortage IL
Feared.

Black Diamond, Journal that is
authority on the coal subject generally,
IN Its current issue gives a most COM
psehensive view of the fuel situation
as IL Is in the country generally and
really describes accurately the situa-
Ton as 1t Is in Richmond right now.
IN order that one may understand the
situation at the minute the coal jour
nal hnds 1t necessary to compare the
present summer season with conditions
In normal times in the summer. Tho
Car supply is not only 100 per cent, but
cars are standing Idle on sidings and
the mines arc lying idle for lack OF
ORDERS. In the fall cars become short
Tor the reason that the people rush 10
cover their needs because cars bccom
scattered and because engines are EN-
p!oyed in the movement Of grain.
In winter time the carrying capacity
! r further reduced because 1T is dim
G. II 70 get tho empty cars back to the
Zines and because the railroads have
dheu!!y with the storms. This yea
lie car supply in the summer never
a. any time reached 100 per cent. There
mas ocen no time where there was no
car shortage all over the country an,
very rev times when any one distric
HaS mad as much as 100 per cent cal
supply, Stil the movement OF coal ha.
not satisfied the demand and at nc
time so far has the production OF Goa
been up 10 the indicated daily require
ments II serious shortage is 10 be
avoided
The only really valuable factor, ami
this is especially true in Richmond
Is mat the retailers and houscholdtr
instead OF delaying their buying until
4@ic N October and in November be
gun 20 buy their supplies in June ant
ere continuing to haul In their Goa
al the fai! ana winter rate. There /
therefore reason to believe that tho
present heavy demand upon transporta
ZION Facilities is simply anticipating
next winters domestic dcma nd for Goa
mere IN Richmond. This Is merely push
ing the busy season for coal ahead o
TINE by At !caSt three months
constant buying by domestic users
even n smaller than in the late fal
normally. viii practically take the
h'useAo!d coal out o: the way beto-
Winter sets IN. This does no, proul.s
10 relieve the general shortage o. Goa
because as explained by Black Ola
THond. the production and shipment or
no ono day 80 far reported have beer
up TO the scheduled daily demand. I
eiNHiy means that 1t is TRANSFERRING
the shortage from tho householdc-s and
the small retailers, where 4, was las,
winter. TO the factories. There IL
isa'y danger right now that the short
age VIII be transferred TO places whore
Il can least be borne.
1He!c are indications. according 10
reports from authoritative sources
ina, America VIII have 20 supply Dug.
land with something Ike 20.o0o 90,
IONS o, coal 10 make good \ probable
loss which she will suffer through nut,
ting young miners into her armies. II.
IS also pointed out that this country
WI! ne expected next winter TO supply
South America with very large o,a,-
Wy OF coal 10 help move crops On
the whole Il now looks as II the en.iro
Industry OF the so-callcd noncsscntial
Class VII! suffer severely the coming
fa!' ana winter unless production a..
tao 7'!nes Is Increased very sharply.