The Republican journal., 1918-05-09
NEXT WINTERS COAL.

The National Coal Association states
that another and more serious shortage IN
coal is likely to occur. Unless reao-
,1ls-ment of traffic on eastern ralirodos Is
made shortage seems to the ASSOCIATION
hA inevitable The coal operators say
that shortage of coal is due to lack Oh
.-o-snor+ation. The railroad operators
soy that less coal is being mined Inc
..orsumers of coal do not know which TO
believe, but any one who has recehtiy
r,a4e a railroad journey from Portland 10
paroor can testify that there are miles
,,.4 miles of empty cars on the Sidlngs
and in the yards IN and between thoSe
two cities. To the average man IL
certainly seems that readIustment OIL
+ro.Tc Is needed. All through the past
,,.i-+er it has been difficult to get trelght
cars promptly for the shipments OF out
solne freight All through the winter
arrivals of our incoming freight nave
beer DELAYED. 1t is evident that neither
State at least, have yet been benentteo
bv he taking of railroads under govern
mental control Every loyal citizen VIII
,,,r-a that war supplies and war materials
If all kinds must have first attention
Next in Importance, to New England, IS
sunplv of coal 1t sounds well and 1t IS
also yis. to chant the refrain Use wood
emf a cord, " but those IN charge OF the
fuel problem and those whose duty 1t Is
tn -eadjust traffic must not forget that
New England is on the map and must
have coal for the coming winter. Coal
n,5s1 be<mined and coal must be trans
porred, Sufficient wood to save thou
sands of our families from freezing can
moi ne obtained Thousands OF our Work-
mo neonIe will be thrown out OF work
next winter if our manufactures are
closed for want of coal. Mr.. Garlleld Is
the Fuel Administrator. 1t is hoped That
the man is as big as is the task before
him Int if the Presidents official eyes
should chance to rest upon man apiei
and better fitted to perform that task,
that man should be shown the beckon OF
A welcoming hand from the door OF the
general of the railroads. For several
weeks he has paid no attention whatever
10 traffic reimbursement because he has
been touring the country in an energetic
effort to sell Liberty Bonds. MIR. McAdoo
IS an able Secretary of the Treasury. We
have no doubt that if he had nothing else
Ia do he would be an able director-general
off the railroad. But every man has his
limitations and we believe Mr.. Nc Adoo
van manage the business OF the u D.
Treasury, or the business OF the railroads
IN an efficient manner But if he at
tempts to conduct the business OF both'
ne affairs of one or the other, and per-
haps of both, will not be pushed with the
vioor and constant pressure which pres
<4nt conditions demand. We believe III
Mr.. McA]oo as the head of the Treasury
s1esartment There must be some man II
4his great country who can fill the offlct
of railroad director, at least little net
ter than Mr. McAdoo can half I'LL 1t. II
however. he is to continue in this Qua
official capacity, we want to say 10 NH
as Treasurer, that Maine has gone owe
The ton" in buying Liberty Bonds, an
we want to say to him as director-geners
of the railroads that we expect MIN
<scome across" with our next winter
coal