The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-13
ACUTE SHORTAGE IN COAL SUPPLY
 IS PREDICTION
Shortage of Labor Vital Fac tor in Situation, Accord ing to Statement of
 Operators

Slight improvement in the output of
 coal in the Birmingham district is noted
 in the report of the fuel administration for the month of May. but it is still far below the requirements of the territory supplies by the Alabama mines. Some of the operating companies report con siderable increase while others show be- to be a tendency towards greater produc- tion during the balance of the year.
 w. c. Scott auditor of the Belltona Coal and Mining company, owned and oper- ated by the same people. states that the
 output of their mines in May were 5l per cent greater than in January. This large increase is accounted for in part,
 however, by the fact that some of their mines were not in operation until d few months ago. The mines of these com
 panies are located in Jefferson, Walker and Winston counties.
 LABOR SITUATION Other operators state that on account of the labor situation their mines are not producing anything near their ca pacity, and that no considerable improve mcnt can be expected until the labor supply is increased. Acute shortage in the coal supply is predicted for next win ter by some of the largest operators in the district
 Reports made to the Jefferson county fuel administration show that during the
 month of May local retail dealers de-
 livered to domestic consumers 12,292 tons of coal; that 562 tons were supplied by wagon mines, and 3l7 tons by industrial
 plert2 to their employees. Permits for
 carload lots for hotels, apartments and
 other large buildings. aggregated IA cars,
 making the total passing to domestic con
 sumers during the month approximately 20 900 tons.
 ZONING SYSTEM
 J. H. Duncan of the Jefferson county fuel administration stated yesterday that
 unless production is largely increased dur ing the next few months there would be big shortage next winter. The Bir- mingham district will be called upon for a greater tonnage than ever before. he said and at the present rate of produc- ton it will fall far short. Under the zoning system created by the fuel ad- ministration the Mississippi river trade formerly supplied in part by Kentucky and Illinois, since Pennsylvania discon- tiuued shipping into that territory, will be cerendcnt upon this district, while the territory taken away from this dis trict consumed but small tonnage, com parativel
 Some improvement in output has been | noted at the mines where Sergt. Austin Beck of the Canadian army has spoken | since coming into the district, according l to reports received at the office of State | Mine Inspector c. H. Nesbitt, under l whose direction Sergeant Beck is speak 1 ing. The miners who have heard him, according to these reports, have come to | realize the necessity of getting out every 1 ton of coal possible and they are apply | ing themselves more devotedly to the cause of the nation.
 l Sergeant Beck will complete his speak 1 ing tour at Johns tomorrow night and will then go to some other district. In 1 his place will come Sergt Harry Brown ] of the First Canadian division. who makes a two-weeks speaking tour of the mining district, himself to be succeeded l by Sergt.-Maj. ]. Armstrong Young. who will be here from July i to July 4.