The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-25
THE WORLD COAL SUPPLY

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methods of providing fuel other h a
coal are developed. The survey in
cludes the coal producing and the coal
consuming world. The pre-war pro-
duction of the coal producing cou
tries and the pre- war exports Of these
countries form the basis of the esti-
mates, for the postwar production and
postwar possible exports. In deter
mining the last two items, considera-
ton is given to the number of coal
consuming industries which will be
idle as a result of the destruction of
the war, like those of Belgium and
northern France, as we'll as those
which will be idle as a result of inter
nal disorders and revolutions, like
those of Russia and Hungary. Allow
ance is made also, in estimating the
possible production, for the mines
which will be nonproductive for the
same reason. The last two items are
estimates or guesses, but the rest of
the facts which form the foundation
for the survey are actual figures.
The figures of the survey show that
the total amount of coal needed by the
entire world, the estimated consump-
ton for the next year, is 49, 11 900
tons. This includes the United States.
The total amount Of coal available for
export from the coal producing coun
tries, excluding the United States,
after the requirements for home con
sumption are supplied, is 97,723, 900
tons. This leaves the United States
to supply 81, 7SS, 900 tons above it's
W consumption. The pre-war ex-
ports Of coal from the United States
were 179,3 2 900 annually. The sur
vey proves that if the world Is to be
kept from freezing the United States
must export 2,463, 900 tons of coal
more in the next few months than il
exported in pre-war times. This is
three times the surplus production of
the mines Of the United States when
they were running at full capacity.
With the mines running slack, the pos
sibility Of strikes, and the fact that
there is no surplus in storage, the out
look for the world is rather gloomy.
Reduced to units of measure as the
public generally estimates coal units, d,
the shortage in the world supply
which must come from the United
States, if from anywhere, would re-
quire 1,249,000 cars Of fifty tons ca.
pacity each for transportation. 1t
would require 1880 vessels of 5000
tons each to carry the supply across
the ocean at n trip.
II is not expected that the United
States will supply the deficit in the
world coal bins. 1t would be impos-
sible for it to do 50. If this country
produces 1000, 900 tons above the de-
mands for home consumption it will
be doing well in view of the conditions
which prevail in the coal industry.
The house demands will be supplied
first, even if it is necessary to lay an
embargo on exports of coal. But the
excessive demands from abroad will
keep up the domestic price and prob
ably increase it above what il is now.
The suffering in cold countries be.
cause Of the shortage of fuel will be
terrible. The people will get through
in some way, but the misery will be
such that the rest of the world sitting
by comfortable fires will shudder over
it. The nations which will suffer most,
because they are importers Of coal,
some of them entirely, and others in
large quantities, are France, Belgium,
Holland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Swe-
den, Spain and Switzerland. Germany
will suffer because, under the peace
treaty, she is compelled to deliver a
total of %, 500, 900 tons to France, Bel
GUM and Italy in payment for the
mines OF France which were destroyed
by the Germans. This supply must
be delivered before Germany is en-
titled to any fuel for her own con-
sumption. She will be a criminal shiv-
ering in ner cell because Of the Hun
nish methods she used when she knew
! she was defeated. ,
The fuel shortage coming on top
Of the destruction in other lines
caused by the war, with little warm
clothing available for the people, and
with many Of the houses reduced in
wrecks, will make the coming winter
one of suffering equal to that caused
by the war.
There is no immediate remedy ex-
cept for the people Of Europe to go
to work. Shortage of production in
the coal producing countries there is
responsible for a considerable portion
of the threatened calamity. In many
of the countries blatant mouthed agi-
tators are demanding redress by Tevo-
luton and strikes instead of work.
The fact that revolutions and strikes
reduce the output OF coal, which alone
will keep the people from suffering,
does not penetrate the thick skulls Of
these ignorant Missionaries. Yet they
have a following in Europe, and in this
country in a small degree, who be-
lieve that the suffering of mankind
is removed By the accession to power
of their shallow Drained leaders. AS