The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-07-31
May Be Repetition Of 1918
Conditions Next Winter Says
Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay Ordering
Longer May Not Get Their
Fuel Later On.

nouncement is based, the Survey
states, upon nationwide study OF
conditions In the bltuminous field
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upon
q basis of Increased production there
Is every prospect of repetition to
some degree Of the situation that pre-
vailed In the United States during the
winter of l9l7-lS
The only way production can he stin-
ulated at the present time, II Is said, Is
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which will be needed later on.
"Productlon during the first FIVE months
Of the year." reads the statement, "fell
7,292, 900 net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the first
fve months Of 1918. Mines are prOduc-
ing coal now at the rate of from $780,
900 to S,500,000 tons week. An aver
age output of 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June to
January / next II the country's esti-
mated needs of 500,0UO,OOO tons this
year are to be met"
Evil Of Delayed Orders.
At no time during this year has the
rate Of production approached the re-
quired tonnage. The tendency on the
part of buyers to hold Off placing their
orders Is limiting production, as the
mines cannot store coal at the point Of
production, and when the rush Of
orders for the winters needs comes
next fall there Is grave danger that
the mines with depleted labor forces
and the probability Of less adequate
transportation, will be unable to meet
the demands The result of such sit.
uatiOn would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements OF domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and industrial
users generally.
ut is believed that requirements for
this year." reads Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield "wll
be about 53O,000,O0O tons of bitumnons
coal, of which approximately 30,000,0O0
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 100000 600
tons to be produced. OF this 100000.
900 tons l78,000,000 tons were produc.
ed during the first five months, leaving
800, 100000 tons to be produced In the
remaining 80 weeks, or an average OF
10.700,00O tons a week.
"Thus far this year production has
been at the rate of S,20O,0fO tons a
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate Of 100000 tons week.
"This production will be difficult of ac'
complishment. The capacity Of operat'
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll Is about 1917 lower
than Il was last year. This deficiency
may be made up In part or wholly II
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them FIVE or six days week unless the
threatened exodus Of forelgn-born labor
occurs.
l. May Be Car Shortage.
"Present wage agreements between
operators and miners expire with
the proclamation of peace by the Pres
ident. suspension Of mining oper
ations while new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, Of course, seri
ously interfere with the production Of
coal and II It should occur during tht
fall would cause panic among buyers
and consumers Of coal"
There Is no use In gambling upor
this or any other contingency, fuel ad
minlstration officials say. The firm OF
individual who wants to be sure of ar
adequate coal supply next winter car
be certain by buying coal now. There
is no other way such assurance
can be obtained Transportation alst
promises to be q limiting factor II th'
food tide OF demand cores at a TIM
when the country's record crops arr
being carried. In some districts i
would appear certain that. notwlth
standing the utmost endeavors of lh'
Railroad Administration and the utiI
ization Of Its experience last fall, ca
shortage will be a cause limiting butt
: mln0us coal production, and for tha
reason II is problematical whether tin
expected production Of 5OO.O0O,OOO tom
r can be attained this year.
Shortage Of labor already is a fac
: tor that Is cutting down the output II
some coal producing sections, accord
ing to the Surveys report. The opera
tors report that from 10000 to 40 0o'
foreign-born miners expect to return II
, Europe as soon as they can get pass
, ports and that many have already re-
turned. II continued this m0vemen
will be capable Of producing but on,
result--a reduction Of the amount o
coal mined In districts where the min
labor is largely foreign born. and tlier
are many such districts
! He who needs coal should hesitate
nc longer. Now IL tie time " bu,
coal