The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-08-02
MINING CONGRESS
FORESEES COAL
SHORTAGE

the danger of a national coa fam
inc this winter the American Mn
ing congress has analysed the situa-
ton and has issued the following
appeal to its membership for CO.
operation with the coal producers in
urging quick development of the in
dustrial fuel market.
A large percentage of industrial
fuel users are treating lightly the
warning Of the National Coal as
ISOLATION that Industrial consumers
of power coal are facing a shortage
in supply when the peak of the coal
movement arrives. For the guild
ance of our members we wish to
place the following analysis before
them and to urge that every one
cooperate to urge quick develop
needed fuel. Possibly some state
ments made in the campaign 70
build the market have been over
drawn. but a consideration of the
combined elements controlling the
situation leads to the conclusion
that the most complete cooperation
between buyers, railroads and pro-
ducers will be necessary to meet
market requirements. We submit
the following facts upon which the
conclusion is based:
Anthracite producers are meeting
fire response and every ton is sold
as fast as produced. Domestic fuel
orders, in the east especially are
we'll balanced.
Industrial were led to
over-buy under stimulus of the fuel
administration propaganda and at
a wartime price. Thousands thus
over-supplied are using coal on hand
and Withholding orders for pos
sible price decline. Logically every
element points to continued esta5-
lished price or higher level. Coal
mines can only produce when trans
portation is available. The rush"
for coal cars will come in the early
fall about the time that the wheat
crop begins to move. The task
of moving these two commodities
is. in normal years, enormous, AMI
this year, with a shortage III
sight. Europe crying for food and a
stiff wheat price forcing every
-1 TO- roorlynf thoro will hn q
JAM everywhere.
Because of lack of orders, coal
men have been unable to estimate
to the railroad administration the
probable movement, hence Director
Hines has been unable to make
plans. but 1000 extra locomotives
have been put in condition and held
in reserve. More new locomotives
have been delivered since January
1, last than were delivered all last
year. Twenty-Five new engines
were delivered last week. State
ments estimating the number OF
coal cars unfit for service at AGO.
600 with 10000 of these unserv-
iceable on one long line (The Penn
syltania railroad) seem not to be
borne out by railroad figures but
9 per cent or fully 10000 of the
open-tOps are either out OF COM
mission or in shops. There has
been costly delay in making re-
pairs and in replacing worn out roll
ing stock, many railroads refusing
to meet the repair bills and holding
the administration responsible. Mr..
Hines has solved the situation by
taking responsibility and today
every available repair man is at
work, all shops are working full
time and 5000 Pennsylvania cars
are i'm outside shops under contract.
The enormous advance in cost of
building new cars 100000 box.
$4,000 gondolas and $4,000 other
open tops), led to refusal of many
companies to accept the new cars at
the war-contract price, and Director
Hines is appointing a trustee to
Mace the new cars in service, con-
troll their movement and settle the
price later.
Another element which will con-
troll is labor. Even if the wage in
crease is avoided-and many pro
ducers expect the Increase coal
miner can only produce so many
mounds per day. He can only be
multiplied to the mine capacity, n
unless the cars car be moved
empties in and loaded out-the
mine cannot produce to capacity. II
the wage increase ome
of high cost" properties may be
forced to close down, thus lessen