The Bismarck tribune., 1918-09-21
COAL SHORTAGE
OF 100,000,O00
T0NSPREDICTED
Necessity for Saving Fuel If We
Would Not Freeze Next Win
ter is Nrgent
PRODUCTION INCREASING
Steady Gain in Output of Bitum-
inOus Noted Since Low Mark
of Last January l
BY Z. c. RODGERS

(N. E. 4. Staff COrrespOndent.)
Pittsburgh, Pa, Sept. s21.-The coal
shortage this year will run up to 1OO,-
600 900 tons. The nation will be that
much short Of domestic and industrial
fuel It may be worse. Careful coal
investigators with whom l have talk
ed predict shortage of 120,OO0,O00
TONS They are pessimistic. After
visit through the leading bituminous
coal states and the anthracite dis
tricts of Pennsylvania. am borced
to the conclusion that this winter will
o see fuel famines in many American
cities. ~.
More coal has been mined this, year
than last The production per mine
per man, per day, has been greater.
Also, the consumption has been great
er. .-r .s+. .....
War industries have first claim on
anthracite, and domestic consumers
west of Pittsburgh must burn soft
coal
But much Of the bituminous must go
to war industry, more than last year.
And the nation will have shortage
at least 1O0,0OO,000 tons.
This is not altogether due to the
fact that not enough coal could be
mined. Probably more of it may be
laid to the fact that the coal gate
ways were crowded with other freight,
and that locomotives were pulling war
supplies instead Of coal cars.
War industries workin day and
night have used double and treble
the coal those same factories and mills
used in peace times turning out peace
products.
There are several ways in which
the nation can overcome all, or most
of this shortage. These include:
High pressure production in
increase;
Coal han to non.essential in
dustrles; e.
s4 Coal conservation in home fires:
Non.wastage Of fuel in essen-
tlal industries; = b
Heatless days.
Production of fbituminous coal
reached its lowest point TINS yea.
January, lower than at the same time
, in 1916 and 1917. Since then it has
gone steadily upward, with but two
falls. in cary April and in June, in
both instances touching the same pro-
duction mark made the year before.
Every other month the production per
day has exceeded that of preceding
years. In mid-July it went up to the
100000 tons mark, higher than ever
before. i In August there was a drop
back to the 100000 mark, with Sep
tember climbing back up again.
At this time, the production OF BIZ
luminous is near or above the 2,20O,-
900 record If it can be kept above
that the rest of the year the increase
over last year will run about 100000
week, and half of the predicted
shortage will be made up. But that
is merely coal at the mine. 1t is not
near the stove or furnace. Railroads
may not be able to handle it plus the
normal production.
Gradually Coal Administrator Gar
field is cutting down on fuel for non
essential industries. That is conserv-
ing coal for war work and homes.
In normal winters domestic con-
sumers use about 120,O00.0O0r tons of
coal in furnaces and stoves. Last win
ter they used nearly 140,0O0,O0O tons,
due to the excessive and widespread
zero weather. ..,,
Taking this to be normal winter,
the home fires must be kept burning
WIN AEO0 Iudtl 4IU,VVV,VVV luis. ~
has been said time and again that
the home fires are too hot and too
poorly kept. They waste too much
fuel. Homes can be heated comfort
ably and healthily with less coal. Coal
dealers themselves say so.
Good coal experts, as for instance
. the editor of the Black Diamond, say
homes can be heated with a third of
the coal used in other winters They
say that domestic users can save 40
100000 tons of coal this winter, and
not be uncomfortable J
They also insist that war industries,
by careful firing, can save at least
100000 tons. .....
These make up the 10o,0OO,0Oo tons
shortage
Increased production in next three
months, 5O,OOO,O00,
Saved in home fires, 40,000,0O0.
Saved in war Industries, 1O,GO0,OOO.
II not saved-fuel famines for the
poor, and heatless days for all.
And what Is saved by excluding nom
essentials may be balanced against