New-York tribune., 1918-06-03
NationFaces
Fuel Famine
NextWinter
alarming Shortage" if
Requirements Equal Esti-
mates, Garfield Predicts
Especial Dispatch to The Trtbune)

NDPSOtut OtSpQLCh TO The I7fbnue1
WASHINGTON, June "A fuel
shortage next winter, probably worse
than that of last winter. certainly
worse if the weather is as severe ;s
the confident expectation of manv Of
ficials here. Fuel Administrator Car
field himself has partially admitted the
Justlhcation of this belief in several
recent statements.
lhe frank question: "What are YOU
doing to make a repetition of factory
closing, workless days impossible q"
was put up to DR.. Garfield bv The
Tribune to-day.
First, DR.. Garfield said he could not
be sure of the situation until a sur
vey now being made, was completed.
he frankly disbelievcs that there is
genuine need for any such quantity of
coal as has been demanded by the
various sections of the country
An alarming shortage" to use his
own language, faces the country if
these alleged requirements should be
round to be accurate. What will hap
pen should they prove conservative is
lett to the imagination.
Dehnlte apportionment of the esti-
mated available stocks of both btu
minous and anthracite coal in what
amounts to rationing system, is the
fundamental policy Of the fuel admin
lstration, DR.. Garfield declared, in ex-
planning the steps now under way to
minimize the fuel troubles. At the
same time every effort will be made to
simulate maximum production and to
improve distribution facilities.
Our aim is to obtain the equitable
distribution of every available pound
of coal, first to meet the needs of
domestic users. and then to meet the
requirements of those industries on
which the government depends for the
production of essential war supplies. Il"
said DR.. Garfield "All else must give
way to this fundamental aim"
Awaits Report of Survey
When asked for his opinion of the
seriousness of the feared coal short
age next winter, DR.. Garfield stated:
1--WE cannot tell that yet, not until the
survey of the bitumnous requirements,
now nearly completed, is officially re-
ported. This is now a matter of only
few days. readjustment of an
thracite apportionment to meet the ex-
panded requirements Of the northea St
ern states has made revision of the
bltuminous figures necessary.
III we were to accept, without re-
viewing or checking, the requirements
OF the several sections of the country
as reported by local fuel administra-
by manufacturers and domestic users
in their several territories, we would
nave evidence of an alarming short
age. However, from our experience
thus far in checking reported require
ments, we believe that in many cases
local fuel consumers have exaggerated
their needs in reports to fuel authori-
ties, so the actual situation is not as
bad as it would appear from prelimi-
nary and unchecked reports. This sit
uation will be cleared up as soon as
the figures are in on bituminous sup
plies and requirements"
Tho available bituminous coal supply
will be apportioned to the several dis
tribution zones upon the completion of
this survey, DR.. Garfield added. This
will mark the second step in the fuel
administration programme to mlni-
mize the anticipated difficulties OF next
winter, the first having been the allot-
ment of available anthracite stocks.
The fuel allotments have been made
on the basis Of conservative estimates $
Of production and the essential needs
of both war industries and domestic
needs in the several sections of the
country, he explained. Production may
exceed what is now estimated to be
the available stocks, in which case re-
serves will be built up to meet emer-
gencv needs.
8s,000,000 Tons of Anthracite
1t is estimated by the fuel admins
tration that the total production oe
anthracite coal during the present coal
wear will be in the neighborhood of
IS, 900 900 tons. Of this amount about
54,345,8O0 gross tons will be available
for domestic use, the remainder being
consumed by railroads and industrials.
New England and the Atlantic states
are the only sections of the country to
receive increased allotments of anthra
cite this year. This has been neces-
. Continued on Page S, Column