Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-28
l||CENERAL GLIMPSE At
MAIN COAL SITUATION
gHeytew OF Things In All tho Leading
s7S1e Markets and Industrial Cen
tiers of the Country.
DEMAND FAR AHEAD OF SUPPLY
government an Enormous Consumer
to Which Others Periodically Give
Way-Side Light UnintentiOIaiiy
Thrown on VirSinia's Shortage.

The Black Diamond. published In
K Chicago. has been for thirty years or
more the coal trades leading exponent
s. and is authority on the fuel subject
generally. This journal has been do
ms Its level best since the beginning
Of the war to keep the coal situation
B fairly laid before the public. Its last
weeks issue is especially interesting
+ because the present uncertain and an
satisfactory condition is plainly set
Il forth after careful investigation and
inquiry have been made. incidentally.
the Black Diamond, without really in
tending to do il. gives little side
"A light on the matter that has lately
Ii been disturbing State Fuel Admins
B traitor Byrd-the shifting OF too large
( a proportion Of the products OF the
y coal mines TO New England, to Balu-
X more and TO other points. to the detri
4 ment and discomfort; of Virginia in
dustries- as well as private consumers
Of coal.
DEMAND IN ALL TIE
MARKETS IS INTENSE
Black Diamond sums mp the situa-
tfon as follows:
Y The prevailing note in every market
report this week IS that the demand
: for coal is intense. Nothing like the
present buying movement has ever
been seen at this time of the year. and
the only way one market can be dis
tinguished from another is a statement
OF the conditions here and there which
shows the frame OF mind at which the
people Of that community are.
For example, in the New England
district, one official has announced that
the people must not use anthracite
coal for house heating before the LIST
Of December. This pictures the fear
of fuel famine in that section, and
1t OF course has alarmed the populacc.
In Baltimore. on the contrary. the
people got little rush OF coal that
was diverted there from other points
and thought the trouble was mainly
over. Then scarcity struck again, and
now they are clamoring for coal.
In Cincinnati the retailers have been
working unusually hard this summer
to move coal. and the coal shovelers
have begun 10 rebel against such hard
work in the heat and the trade is
slowing down a little.
In Minneapolis and ST. Paul the
movement Of coal was slowing down
somewhat and the fuel administrators
became alarmed over the tendency, so
he instructed every dealer to get in at
least so per cent of his supply at
once II he couldn't get anthracite he
should get something else. This in
dictated that the people needed a lit
tie stirring ur.
In Chicago the retailers are tremen-
dously busy on bituminous coal, hut
both they and their customers are
waiting patiently for the arrival OF
the promised supply OF anthracite.
THE SPECIAL TROUBLES IN
TIE. EASTERN MARKETS
In the matter of steam coal eastern
q factories, as reported from New York
1 and Baltimore are suffering because
5 OF the competition OF war plants
There is not enough coal for everyone
4 and the war plants, OF course. are tax
ings@the lions share Of It. General
( business already IS slowing down.
Inthe Middle West some gas com-
panies that are competing with the
\ eastern factories have this week been
= forced to close down for lack Of coal
This is extremely dangerous. but the
s because the government has comman-
deered the coal for war plants that
was going to these gas companies.
IN the Mississippi Valley the stua-
tipn is quite easy for the time being
on. steam coal, and in fact the mines
seem to have an unused productive
capacity, regardless of the loss OF
working time by the action OF the
miners and the power companies
LABOR SITUATION IN
g MINES SOMEWHAT IMPROVED
There has been a genera! complaint
up, to now ahou; labor. Ii HASN'T been
either industrious or sober Tho cam
paign which is being chrr!ed'on by the
fuel administration, the Department of
Justice and the National Coal Assoca-
tion is awakening the mon to a new
spirit and they arc beginning 20 re-
spond wonderfully, This is situation
which VIII be ironed out in short order
One Of the most encouraging things
about the labor supply this week was
the announcement OF the provost-mar-
shall that the matter OF deferred clas-
sihcat;ons for miners was for the local
boards TO decide. This promises TO
keep enough miners in the mines TO
keep w production provided The min
ers will work.
AS to the car supply the same old
trouble seems to exist in the East.
namely. the congestion of lines and
difficulty in moving coal. The car sun
ply has improved even there however
In the MISSISSIPPI! Valley II is up 10
100 per cent OF the productive capacity
Of the mines, the labor situation being
considered.