New-York tribune., 1919-09-04
there would be shortage even if all Of

tAcIA WcIc AL use.
Specifically, the coal producers say
that the railways failed to haul 1924 900
tons of coal in the month of June,
3,724,1S3 tons in July and 5,902,582 in
the first two weeks in August. The loss
in coal transportation for these two
weeks alone was enough, according to
John Callahan, traffic manager of the
National Coal Association, to meet the
soft coal requirements of the whole of
New Jersey for year, and the total loss
was enough to provide New England's
requirements for eight months. The car
shortage is described as being twice as
great as it was in 1918, when the rail-
ways were struggling with the stupen-
dous load Of war traffic.
Although 1900 new coal cars have
been put into service this year, they are
not enough. Twenty thousand more cars
have been built, but are held up, accord
ing to Mr. Callahan, for numbering and
lettering, which is reported to be pro-
ceeding very slowly, one batch of 1000
being stencilled at the rate of ten a day.
days to deliver them. In the week ended
August 8 the production lost for lack of
cars, according to Geological Survey
figures, was 22.5 per cent of the full out
put of the mines.
AS to rapidity of movement Mr..
Callahan says that the average daily
movement of all cars has fallen from
26.9 to 21.5 miles day and that coal
cars move more slowly still With 10
per cent of the cars in "bad order" and
the rate of movement reduced 20 nor
cent, which means much longer "turn-
around" for each car, and about a third
more coal offering than the railroads
are handling, the railway administration
complains of abnormally low operating
revenues. The coal men say that here is
a chance to get revenue.
The position Of the Director General
OF Railways in regard to the complaints
OF the coal producers is one Of skepticism,
and even Of cynicism He intimates that
they should pay more attention to max
ing the public lower prices than to talk
about the shortage of transportation. He
is OF the opinion that they have gone
too far in putting the country's require
ments at 5O0,000,O00 tons, which was
about the production of 1916, and that
the coal men are animated chiefly bv a
desire to get even" with him for his
successful efforts in crushing the price
liking or price stablizing movement of
last spring.
The coal men hold there is enough
labor, if it will render efficient service.
to produce from now on the II 600 600
tons week that they say is necessary.
According to them, the labor now in the
mines is not working to normal capacitv.
with an elght-hour day but few miners
work that long; and with seven-hour
or siX-hour day and a five-dav week..
about to be demanded by the miners. the
percentage working less than the nolni
nal time would be just as great as now,
1t is asserted. The disposition of labor i
is represented as being to "go slow" and
get more pay for less production. It is
estimated that q 3O-hour week would
mean a reduction of 37.5 per cent in the
output of coal with the same number of
men. Taking 5O0,00O,OO0 tons as the
current normal requirement of the
country and capable of being produced
by the number of men now in the mines.
this would lower the output to 312,-
ooo,00O tons; and with the increased
rates demanded, this output would cost
more than 500,o00,O0o tons at present.
Such an outcome would be appalling in
its consequences.
1t is admitted that if the miners sue
coed IN achieving their aims, or ANYTHING
approaching them, the curtailment of
production on account of lack of trans
portation will sink into comparative in
significance