Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-12-11
Restrictions Prevail
(continued from Page Onel


to run as billed except the tide water
and export embargo will continue;
orders placed for coal to western re-
gions from Pocahontas and Alie-
gheny regions will be cancelled. but
coal billed on these orders prior to
cancellation will be permitted to 60
and be expedited SO that these cars
can be promptly released for mines"
The railroad administration. Direc-
tor General Hines announced. would
aid in meeting the needs Of other
consumers by reducing its supply to
a ten days margin. The administra-
ton has been maintaining a fifteen
day supply.
While these two government asen-
cies directly concerned with distri-
button ofthe available supply OF BIZ
luminous coai-which - it estimated
has been cut 3s.ooo.oeo tons by the
4o-day strike-wer4 issuinG their
warnings, White House officials in
dictated that steps would be taken
Immediately to carry out the provi-
sions of the Presidents proposal re-
lating to investigation Of wages and
working conditions in the bituminous
fields by a commission Of three. In
fact twas intimated that the Presi-
dent already had practically decided
on the appointments to the commits
sion and was awaiting only the re-
turn of Attorney General Palmer
from Indianapolis before announcing
the names of the three members.
The dislocation which the strike
has. created in the production. trans
portation and distribution of coal
cannot be instantly remedied," said
Director General Hines in his state
ment. and pending readjustment il
is highly important for the public to
continue exercise restriction in the
resumption of coal and it is loped
there will be due appreciation OF
the difficulties which cannot he i'm
mediateiy overcome.
During the strike the weekly pro-
duction Of coal was cut from eleven
to twelve million tons to about five
million tons and tlis much reduced
tonnage was mostly mined in Penn
sylvania and West Virginia. Widely
distant portions of the country which
were ordinarily dependent upon 9TH
er coal fields had to be supplied from
, these and other unusual sources OF
supply. The result has been that the
Railroad Administration his been
compelled to transport coal over the
most unusual routes and for dis
tances far in excess of the normal
t,.,v, hos rocr,ltoi in aQuins
ment being scattered widely to other
parts Of the country. A period OF
time will be required Tor the COM
plete relocation of this equipment
and meanwhile it is not to be antici-
pated that all mines can be supplied
with cars to the full normal extent.
The director general has seen a COM
mittee Of the National Coal Association
and pointed out these difficulties and
urged that as rapidly as that organ
ization had information concerning the
expected resumption Of mining opera.
lions such information be duly commu-
nicated to the railroad administration
az well as to the local railroad officers.
There was manifested policy to assist
in this matter as far as practicable. II
is hoped that the general public. the
coal operators and the miners all will
appreciate these difficulties and will
make allowances for the time require
to restore normal conditions.
1.-THE railroad administration will con-
tinue to distribute coal to protect those
regions whose supply has been made
quate until they can be supplied from
their ncrmal sources.
"Just as soon as practicable relations
in connection with the use Of bitumi-
nous coal for power, light and heat will
be rescinded or modified and the same
is true of the supplying of coal to
necessary industries. 1t will De neces-
sary to observe conditions as the stu
alton progresses before definite time can
be fixed for changing Of these regula-
tons and orders"
No formal statement was issued by
Fuel Administrator Garfield.