The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-14
COALOUTPUT
SURE TO Be CUT,
SAY EXPERTS
$4,000 Of $4,000 Miners
Left Anthracite Fields
Since War Started.
\. Y. TO GET MORE FUEL
other Allotments Will Be Re-
duced-Patriotic Appeal
to Diggers Is Urged.
by HENRY ROOD.
Special Despatch 10 THg srx,

PHILADELPHIA. July 13.-Notwith-
standing conflicting and contradictory
statements as to the present unsettled
situation regarding the anthracite coal
supply for the coming winter. there is
one group Of men who know exactly
what that situation is, what causes de-
crease in production of fuel for domes-
tic purposes and to what extent the
people Of New England and the middle
Atlantic States generally may expect
20 warm their homes this season.
The group consists Of practical coal
men and trafYic men. whom DR.. Garfield.
United States Fuel Administrator. called
10 his assistance several months ago,
when 1t was realised that the distribu-
ton OF anthracite required the services
OF men who thoroughly understood it
as an organising genius like Schwab.
for example. was needed In shipbuildinE
and Ryan In aircraft production.
With last years experience as a
warning. Dr. Garfield has formed spe-
cial commission. calling it the United
States Fuel Administration Anthra cite
Committee. the members being S. d.
warriner. chairman, who Ii president
Of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany W. J. Richards. president Of the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company. and Day B. Dickson Of New
York, member of the firm Of Dickson
Eddy. who handle coal for the Ontario
and Western. w. T. Grier. traffic man
ager Of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. was
made secretary. and Samuel Barker Of
Philadelphia was appointed spokesman
for the official body.
Much Coal Ready to Mime.
Through Mr.. Barker the committee
makes the following statements:
I. There is an unlimited amount OF
anthracite coal underground and ready
for mining.
2 There Is no shortage in coal cars
needed to carry anthracita to market.
3. Unless a miracle happens the
eastern part Of the United States will
have a shortage OF anthracite this
coming winter How serious this
shortage will be depends almost wholly
Upon two factors the mildnese or the
severity Of winter. and especially the
labor situation in the coal regions.
l. The one great difficulty In de-
liyering enough coal to keep the public
comfortable this coming winter will
lie solely in shortage Of labor at the
mines. II in some way this shortage
could be prevented there would De
plenty OF coal for everybody.
a Cp to the present time approxi-
rately $4,000 mine workers. above
ground and below ground, have leit
the mines. Roughly speaking each
OF these would have produced 500
tons of anthracite per annum. Al
lowing for newcomers to the mines
rhie means a loss In potential mining
ability OF some 19.Soo,00o tons.
There the thing is in nutshell.
Tientv OF coal underground. plenty OF
cars TO carry II to New England. New
York and elsewhere, as needed and
ca'v cne trouble-shortage OF mine
workers TO get the product out OF the
bowels OF the earth. up to the surface
through the breaker and into the cars.
Problem IL to Get the Labor.
What can be done to remedy the labor
shortage? That is the crux Of the whole
problem. Upon its prompt and wise set
cement depends to large extent the
comfort and health OF millions Of men,
women and children. during the coming
winter.
There il no question, of course. that
the War Department will do Its share
FOR neither Secretary Baker nor Provost
Marshal General Crowder would permit
the selective service law seriously to In
,erfere with a vital industry like that or
anthracite coal mining. AS matter OF
fact, up 10 the present month OF the
$4,000 men who have left the coal re-
gors only 1000 TO 5000 were drafted
into the National Army.
Virtually all OF the others left the
7-lEes for shpyards and like war IN
dYsrrles which pay vastly larger wages
than accrue to the miner. 1t Is under
stood that Gen. Crowder Is keeping close
watch on the labor situation in the an
ihrarte fields. and as far as the army
IS cDncerned that he will pursue such
course as developments make advisable
for the country as a whole. So the
problem which is making the public no
sprrehensive figures itself down TO the
5000 or 10000 other men.
As to these men. the anthracite oper-
s.ors committees can make only sug-
gest.on; that public sentiment be aroused
until It is realized how important II Ii
for the men to return to the mines even
y they have to give up higher wages
t.sswhere. When shipyards and muni-
ton plants increased their activity to
Tremendous proportions anthracite mine
workers were told of opportunities galore
for landing Jobs paying what seemed to
be fabulous sums.
In the first flush OF excitement II 10
hardly to be wondered at that they left
the anthracite fields by thousands. II
Is entirely possible that rightly directed
public opinion now might influence an
sppreciable number of these emigrants
from the anthracite fields TO 80 back to
their former work. for patriotism runs
nigh IN the average miner. But as
mere business proposition. a proposition
ot dollars and cents, miner could
hardly he expected to give UP $500
khipyard or munition plant Job for the