New-York tribune., 1918-04-16
Reduction in Working
Time Demoralizing Mine
Labor, He Says
Fuel Production
At a Low Level
Railroads Delay in Making
Contracts Also Cuts Out
put, Statement Asserts
TStof Coyresponderce1

WASHINGTON, April 15.-Harry A.
Garfield. Fuel Administrator, in a pub
II. statement to-day declared that "un.
less there is immediate and material
Improvement in car supply efficiency
.hs couhtry faces the certainty of a
ssrious shortage of bituminous coal"
Car shortage in the coal producing
sslds already threatens to demoralize
completely the mine labor supply, Dr..
Garfield stated, and fuel production is
asing further curtailed through the
..;lurs Of the railroads to negotiate
contracts for railroad fuel at the gov
eminent price.
Say More Cars Were Loaded
From the railroad administration
came a report showing that more cars
we're loaded with coal during the first
geek in April than in the same period
last year and that since January l
s5SlS more cars had been loaded than
last year despite the sharp decline in
January because of bad weather and
tbs increased war freight and troop
traffic this year.
L mines are shutting down, railroad
administration officials said informally,
It is mainly because they have insult
fcient orders or are short of labor.
Railroads are hauling 100 per cent coal
supplies TO industries given fuel pri-
ority by the fuel administration and
War Industries Board, it was pointed
out, and this tends to cut car supply to
others.
DR.. Garfield's statement in part fol-
lows:
Must Coal Here.
"The United States Fuel Administra-
ton is gravely concerned over the seri-
Gus falling Off in car production which
las become apparent since the begin
ming Of the coal year on April l. De-
spite the many measures adopted by
tie fuel administration to increase
production and facilitate distribution,
The supply OF bituminous coal of the
country fell off 100000 tons, or IA
per cent, during the week ended April
{, as compared with the preceding
week, according to the reports of the
United States Geological Survey.
Car Shortage Cuts Production
Some part of this loss was due to
hilure OF mine labor on April l,
Mitchell Day, the anniversary of the
enactment Of the eight-hour law. With
The exception OF two weeks during the
hardest weather of ehe winter, the daily
oltuminous production was lower dur
<no
at any time since the fuel administra-
ton was organized.
"A large part Of this falling off in
production. however, is due to the con-
snued lack Of transportation service,
as evidenced by the shortage of cars
placed at the mines to be loaded. This
is due to the general pressure of war
..affc on railroads.
"Car shortage reports for the week
ended April 6 are not yet available,
bat for the week ended March 80 the
mines throughout the country showed
an average loss in production due to
car shortage Of 23-3 per cent.
This continued shortage of cars at
tho mines in the fields supplying the
Eastern Industrial territory has had
.ae effect OF keeping mine labor idle
'or days a. a time, and in some of
tie fields has cut the working time
70 one or two days a week. Under
these conditions the mine workers,
Unable TO maintain themselves and
'nelr families on their curtailed pay,
asve been tempted by the steady en-
pioyment offered by the war industries
ID the manufacturing centres.
Labor Supply Menaced
The fuel administration is gravely
appfehensive lest this condition re-
'ait In the complete -demoralization
~ The labor supply Of the bituminous-
INNING industry. Even short con-
.huance Of these car supply condi-
IONS will result In the forcing out
~ me mining fields the labor which
.ae mining operators and the fuel ad
M'nis,ratlon may find il impossible to
.splace, even II the railroads are able
70 % oaer full car supply to the mines
s'ss In the summer. Reports to the
-uei administration give evidence Of
uaIest and dissatisfaction among the
M'ne workers who throughout the last
20. nave given patriotic service, even
'asn a, II meant personal sacrifice.
me .uel administration will under
.e !" see that the preferred classes
.sss'qaea ~ IN Preference List No. /, Of
.'"t4iy committee or the war IN
ss;a ...ies hoard, are the first to re-
.rns, e 'heir supply Of the limited
dnpg. This priorities list includes
anszs'c ans'c Consumers Of COAL
-...sot'c .a1not'c cooperation by the do
ssaIc ac users Of the country in the
.ss s. ol The fuel administration to
80. 80 The early ordering" Of next
m "xrs domestic coal supply has filled
- many Of the retail dealers Of the
s.,muh'ry with orders which cannot be
--ssiiyered for weeks or possibly months.
n,a' -s.s consumers will be given their
eass sSes preference, however. and their
A. ~H be delivered jugt az rapidly
a.. nc railroadz can move it. The
.sssain ..,sn state of the supply makes it
,s,nsa rsaa'iye that every domestic con-
80 80 should have his order in the
st1S of his dealer at the eariieat DOS