Morris tribune., 1919-06-20
BE WISE AND BUY
YOUR COAL EARLY
Many Reasons are Advanced for the
Possible Shortage-NO Reduction
in Price

To avoid a coal shortage next win
ter production during the coming
summer must be increased consider
ably Analysis of coal production
records since Nov. / last indicate that
coal will be far from plentiful next
winter, if production continues to
fall.
Production in 1913 was speeded I'D
for war purposes at the urgent de-
mand Of the government, at a high
labor cost. When the armistice was
signed the big government demand
for coal stopped, the mild winter
curtailed domestic consumption and
the industrial uncertainty added to
the lack Of demand Consequently
the market was flooded with high
cost coal and mines were either forced
to shut down or operate on a part
time basis.
The demand for coal has been
gradually falling off in various lines
all during the mild winter, with a
corresponding decline in production
records. The mines have had fewer
small consumers have met their needs
mostly from stocks laid in last SUM
mer and fall. Production Of both an
thracite and bituminOus coal stands
at total of about so per cent of
full time output, and most Of this
shortage is caused by q lack Of or
ders
1T IS UP TO THE CONSUMER
Whether we are to have enough
coal to keep US warm next winter is
just now entirely up to the individual
consumer If he places his order
now, takes delivery and stores the
coal, there will be plenty Of coal for
everybody. If he defers his buying
until falI-jf he delays sixty days
there will be a shortage next winter,
especially Of anthracite, that will
be worse han anything Of the kind
this country mas expeTjenced since
1902, when the mJntWIrke~s' strike
tied up every hing. 1t may be said
also Thai prices are not going lower.
Prices of anthracite viii advance 10
cents d LON oil June 1ot. They Will
advance 10 cents 4 ton on the first
day Of each month thereafter Up to
and Including September.
During the period from Nov, /,
1918, to March IS, 1919 the loss in
production has been more than 3d.
100000 tons, compared with the
same period in which severe weather
and considerable car shortage pre-
vailed The output from the mines
during the eighteen weeks from Nov
/, 1918, to March 1919, Including
both anthracite and bituminOus cOaD
was 62,OOO,OOO tons less than the
next preceding eighteen weeks.
Normally, there is a considerable
increase in demand for coal from year
to year; that is an increased con-
sumption and a consequent increase
in production.
TIME TO BUY COAL NOW
Unless the buy early campaign
recently started by the United States
fuel administration is taken seriously
by the consumers of the country very
little Improvement may be expected
in the operation of the mines. Con-
sumers holding back their orders are
advised that the best time to buy
coal is when there is lack of demand
for it, and that condition prevails
now. The best time to put in orders
with the dealers for next winters
supply of coal, is now, when II IS
plentiful and the demand for 1t 1S
light, Furthermore, it takes twelve
months for the miners to produce,
the railroads to transport and retail
men to deliver years supply OF coal.
Therefore. it is a good business policy
to place an order early for full re-
uuirements with a responsible deal
err.
It may be stated that there is no
danger in storing coal in cellars II
the following rules are observed
l. Store sized coal only, preferably
the larger sizes, from which all OF
the fine material has been removed
and avoid breakage as much as pos
sible when putting into the bin.
2. Store and coal only in bins that
have no outside sources of heat, as
might be furnished by steam pipes
lues from laundry stoves or long ex-
posture to the sun. 3. The coal
should be kept dry. Avoid especially
alternate wetting and drying.
The LeSueur Tyre Once More
&c n T,pSIoJT Her