Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-07-04
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
n0uncement Is based, the Survey
states, upon a 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 1917-1s. pI 'H" -''
The only way production can be stim.
ulated at the present time, 1t Is said, is
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which will be needed later ON.
Production during the first Ave months
Of the year." reads the statement, 'feil
81, 1892 900 net tons, or approximately
25Ss below production during the first
hve months Of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate of from 5000.
600 to 100000 tons week. An aver.
age output OF 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June to
January ] next IL the country's esti-
mated needs Of 5OO,OOO,OOO tons this
year are to be met" ~ A~ ee #
Evil Of Delayed Orders
At no time during this year has the
rate Of production approached the re-
CURED 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, win 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.
: ut 10 believed that requirements for
this year." reads a4Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, "will
be about $4,000 600 tons Of bituminous
COAL Of which approximately 10000, 600
tons have been used from stocks accu-
muiated last year. leaving 10000, 900
tons TO be produced. OF this SOC, Co.,
GOO tons 17S.OO0, 900 tons were produc-
ed during the first FIVE months, leaving
BIZ, 100000 tons to be produced In the
remaining 30 weeks, or an average Of
10, 7O0,0 900 tons a week.
"a "Thus far this year production has
been at the rate Of 100000 tons q
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate Of II, 300 600 tons week.
This production will be difficult Of &C.
ccmplishment. The capacity of operat-
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll is about 1879 lower
than 1t was last year This deficiency
may be made mp in part or wholly IL
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them five or six days q 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-
atoms while q new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, of course, seri-
ensly Interfere with the production of
coal and II 1t should occur during the
fall would cause a panic among buyers
and consumers of coal"
There liz no use In gambling upon
this or any other contingency, fuel ad-
miBistration officials say. The Arm or
individual who wants to be sure of an
adequate coal supply next winter can
be certain by buying coal now. There
IL NO other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises tOabe q limiting factor II the
Hood tide Of demand comes at time
when the. country's record crops are
being carried. In some districts II
would appear certain that, notwith-
standing the utmost endeavors of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
izatiOn Of Its experience last fall, car
shortage will be a cause limiting btu
minons coal production, and for that
reason 1t Is problematical whether the
expected production of SOC, 600, 600 tons
can be attained this year. n
Shortage Of labor already In n fac.
tor that 10 cutting down the OUTPUT In
some coal producing sections, accord.
Ing to the Surveys report. The opera.
tors report that from $4,000 to a. 900
fOreign-born miners expect to return 10
Europe as soon 30 they can get pass.
ports and that many have already re.
turned. II continued this movement,
win be capable Of producing but one
'resnlt--a reduction Of the amount of
coal mined In districts where the mine
labor Is largely foreign-b0rn, aud there
ere many such districts. ~
K de who needs coal should hesitate
no longer. New y the time t. buy
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