Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-05
COAL CONCERNS
SWAMPEO WITH
FUTURE ORDERS
Dealers Complain That They Have
Received Too Many Requests
for Fuel
CLEvENSTINE HAS OWN VIEWS
Says That Consumers Who Buy Ton
at a Time Are Ones To Be
Urged To Action

Rock Island coal dealers are
fighting shy of more coal orders.
Several of the retailers today said
that Rock Island is in a panicky
state with relation to the coal sit
uation. In a nutshell here are the
facts as the dealers view the still
alton:
Rock Island people have
placed orders for more coal to
date than in any other year by
Sept 1.
While there is no coal short
age of any severity at present
dealers are unable at the pres
ent time to fill the orders.
insufficient amount of rolling
stock on the railroads prevents
the transportation of fuel in
quantities large enough to han
die the rush of orders.
People of the city are advised
to wait a month or so before
placing orders for the winter
supply.
Orders which are placed for
coal for immediate use will be
given all preference in deliv-
cry.
On the other hand, H. A. eleven
slime, chairman of the Rock Island
county fuel board, admits certain of
the claims of the coal dealers as
being true but goes on to point out
the following:
To a great extent the persons
who have pl&ed orders for
coal to date are the same ones
who each year have had their
supplies laid in during July
and August.
The real menace contribut-
ing to fuel famines in winter
the individual who buys coal
only ton at a time-has to no
degree been touched in the
campaign directed for early
buying Of coal.
Hoped To Save.
Many consumers have placed or
ders within the last week because
of the fact that freight rates are
TO be increased % per cent on June
25 and hope to secure their fuel at
a cost under the present prices.
Dealers in many instances have re-
fused to accept orders under the
present prices for delivery of coal
after June % because they will
stand to lose the % per cent IN
crease in freight rates.
Mr.. Clevenstine said today that
the coal canvass which was con-
templated here, with the idea of
determining the wants of the con-
sumers has been temporarily If not
permanently abandoned. He said
tnat the United States fuel admins
tration for Illinois has prepared the
following statement. under a cap
ton of The Railroads and the Car
Shortage" which has been re-
ceived by Mr.. Clevenstine:
"Why is there a coal shortage?
1--WE are told that our mines are
working not more than sixty per
cent of their capacity.
at is asserted that our Illinois
miners who mined less than S0,000,-
900 tons last year, could mine 150.-
100000 tons if they were given te-
cara
why cannot they get the cars?
as there delinquency Or the part
of the railroads? Or has the war
piled up such excessive burdens
that it is physically impossible for
the roads to meet them? Recent in
formation indicates that they are
up against a. physically impossible
task
"P. B. Noyes, the conservative
head of the conservation division Of
the fuel administration at Washing
ton, recently made an enlightening
speech in which he illustrated in
graphic fashion Just what the rail-
roads are up against. We present
an Illuminating extract from that
speech:
The coal supply is short. Last
winter it was short and the i'm
mense new requirements for war
purposes threaten to make it short
er still the coming winter.
1.-The mines, which get out the