Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-31
VIRGINIA HARDEST
HIT STATE IN UNION
Fuel Administrator Byrd Goes to
Washington to File
Protest.
is A GROSS DISCRIMINATION
If Orders Favoring Other Sec
tons Stand, Tobacco Factories
Will Be Forced to Close.

IL
Senator Martin for Washington TO con-
ministrator. concerning the cr,i.a,
fucl situation in Virginia. Bcfo-e
leaving. Mr.. Byrd said that he tn ought
the people of Virginia should be fully
Informed of the facts. "I Will do
everything in my power to obtain an
increase IN production. and failing in
that will attempt to secure more
cquita bile distribution" he said
In his letter addressed Yesterday to
DR. Garfield. Mr.. Byrd emphasized the
tact that the production of coal de-
pends upon labor and transportation.
IN order to permit the uninterrupted
current of industrial life and to wa..n
American homes. lie called attention
to the manner of operation of Virginia
coal fields-when labor had been pi.n-
tiful. 'ihe car shortage had been Sc
rious. This results in underproduction.
because available car supply and the
available labor supply arc not brought
together in close cooperation.
WANTS SINGLE OFFICIAL
IN CHARGE OF can MOVEMENTS
Mr.. Byrd recommended the .laciuE
OF single official in charge of The
car movement to all coal fields IN this
state so that by the intelligent aud
flexible movement Of cars. the labor
available in each field can be utilized
TO the limit He called attention ~
ihc fact that production. and not dis
iribution-to which matter the entire
attention of the national fuel admin
;stration seems to he diractcd-is the
vital factor in caring tor the nations
f.(. nj
mcnt more pointed. MIR. Byrd asks this
preponderart questions la an indus
tria! system. such as ours-a system, 80
complex and intcrdcpendent-wtat in
duStries arc noneSsential?"
Close Investigation IS then called IN
the coal situation of Virginia. vir-
Einia's supply OF bituninous coal. up-
der the zonins system, is obtained
largely from tho New River and 70
cahontas fields. The estimated pro.
duction for the coming year is IL. 900
600 and 100000 tons. respec:iveiy
Inc orders given by DR.. Garfield TO
distribute the output amount 10 ao.
3oe,ooc which is l.5no, 600 more than
the total estimated production. and
no provision has been made at ell Cor
inc domestic and industrial needs for
Virginia The necessary consumption
OF Virginia. exclusive of the Du Pont
fo"der Company and the railroads.
lot Whom. besides shipment 10 New
england Or, GARFIELD has expressly or
dered distribution with total disrc-
gard for domestic consumption-ta
100000 tons annually
VIRGINIA IS HARDEST
HIT STATE IN UNION
In addition. Dr. GARFIELD has bv
recent order reduced Nirginia's supplv
OF anthracite coal Go per cent less tb.p
shipments of last year in order :, give
Ne" England communities an addi-
iional supply. Virginia is. therefore
the hardest h.t State in the Union. de-
spite the great war activities within
her borders and her proximity to the
mines. Every State in the South At.
Iantlc division has received an increase
IN the supply of anthracite coal with
the exception Of Virginia, which has
had GO per cent OF her normal SUNNY
taken away.
The fuel administrator further saws:
These facts have repeatedly i'm
pressed upon your assistants, but so
far no relief has been given.
The almost desperate situation in yir-
Gin!a can be further realized when 7
state that in April OF this year this
State has received onc-third as much
coal for domestic consumption as il,
received in April. 1917.
AS a climax 10 the system of dis
trioution established by your bureau
YOU nave recently promulgated an order
requiring the operators to make 100
per cent shipments TO all orders re-
ceiVed from preferred industries. with
out limiting the amount such indus
tries are permitted to store
PREFERRED INDUSTRIES
ARE STORING COAL
The necessary result Of this order
is that such preferred industries will
store all the coal they can get, and
the temptation 10 do this is the greater
owing to the impending increase in
freight rates.
This is Il time for sacrifice and the
endurance OF burdens. but the sacri-
iices should be in common. and the
burdens should be equally imposed
Virginia will uncomplainingly bear her
part. but there is no just reason why
she should be sacrificed for the bene-
| tit of other communities
The suggestion that some of her
greatest industries must shut down be-
SduSc sue iS 4 ven less IMAM her fair
proportion Of the common stock of fuel
is appa ling. Suppose her great to-
bacco factories are shut down. as is
threatened. Imagine the far-rcaching
effects. Mill. .ons of internal revenue
| taxes will be lost. Thousands OF ope-
! raiors. especially young women un-
skilled for work. will be thrown out
OF employment. The financial interests
| of the state Will receive a shock.
THOUSANDS of farmers who have planted
tobacco will find no market for their
! crops. and disaster will reach out in
many unexpected directions.
TEMPTING OPERATORS
To EXPORT coal.
Still further 10 shut the door of
hope on the domestic consumer. af-
ter fixing the prico of coal. at figure
which after elaboration you regarded