Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-26
COAL SHORTAGE
ON Way; GOVT.
SAYS BUY NOW
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.

The United States Geological Survey
announces from Washington the prob
ability of another general coal short.
age next fall and winter. The an
nouncement Is based, the Survey
states, upon nationwide study OF
conditions in the bituminous field
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, TO place the mines upon
basis OF Increased production there
Is every prospect of a repetition TO
some degree of the situation that pre-
vailed In the United States during the
winter OF l9l7-1S.
The only way production can be slim
alated ate the present time. IL is said. is
oy placing orders with the mines for
coal which Will be needed later on.
Production during the frst five months
Of the year" reads the statement. fell
57,292,0O0 net tons. or approximately
ESQ below production during the first
ave months OF 1918 Mines are produc-
lng coal now at the rate OF from 5000
so0 TO $500, 900 tons a week. An aver
age output OF 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June | to
January l next IL the country's esti-
mated needs OF 5OO,O0O.OO0 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-
auired tonnage The tendency on the
part OF buyers to hold of 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 a sit
uation would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements OF domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and industrial
users generally.
1T is believed that requirements for
this year" reads a Survey statement
20 Fuel Administrator Garfield. "wilf
De about 530,OOo,0O0 tons Of btumlnous
coal, Of which approximately S0.000.000
tons have been used from stocks accu-
INFLATED last year, leaving IOO,0OO,OOO
tons 10 be produced. OF this 5OO,OOO,-
200 tons 17S,OOO,OO0 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months leaving
322. 900, 900 tons 10 be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks. or an average OF
10 700 600 tons week.
Thus far this year production has
been at the rate Of S,20O,OO tons a
week. In 1913 production was at the
rate OF i 100000 tons week.
This production viii be difficult Of ac-
complishment. The capacityvof operat-
Ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll is about 1000 lower
than II was last year. This deficiency
may be made up In part or wholly II
the mines have orders sufficient 70 run
them FIVE or six days a week unless the
threatened exodus OF foreign-born labor
occurs.
May Be Car Shortage.
present wage agreements between
operators and miners expire with
the proclamation of peace by the Pres
ident. A 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 il should occur during the
fall would cause a panic among buyers
and consumers OF coal.
There is no use in gambling upon
this or any other contingency. fuel sd-
ministration oficisls say. The frm or
individual who wants TO be sure OF an
adequate coal supply next winter can
be certain by buying coal now. There
10 no other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises to be q limiting factor II the
food tide Of demand comes at a time
when the countrys record crops are
being carried. In some districts II
would appear certain that, notwith-
standing the utmost endesvors Of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
ization OF Its experience last fall. car
shortage will be a cause limiting butt
minous coal production, and for that
reason Il Is problemsticsl whether the
expected production Of 500. 00O,O 900 tons
can be attained this year.
Shortage Of labor already is a fac
tor that is cutting down the output in
some coal producing sections. accord
ing 10 the Surveys report. The opera
tors report that from $4,000 to 10000
forelgn-born miners expect to return to
Europe as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
turned. II continued this movement
will be capable Of producing but one
result-a reduction OF the amount OF
coal mined in districts where the mine
labor 4. largely forelgn-born. and there
are many such districts.
He who needs coal should hesitate
no longer. Now Is the time to buy
coal