The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-11
HEAVY CUT IN
COAL Yield BY
CAR SHORTAGE
100000 Tons Lost In Ten
Weeks by Inadequate
Supply of Cars
100000 MINERS PLAN
TO ASK WAGE INCREASE
Operators Tell Senate COMMITTEES That
Radical Miners Are Trying to
Install Soviet Methods
In Mining

WashinSton tSpecaD = Shortage
OF cars IN the coal fields has cut pro-
auction of Bituminous coal 1900, eco
tons IN tcn weeks, and threatens to
prlng about a recurrence of the coal
famine of 1917-1S, unless checked
without jlay, according to testimony
given " John Ca!lahaa traffic man
ager of the National Coal Associa-
1fon, before the 1,nate committee il
vestigatihg the coal situation at its
hrst days hearing here.
During the tw,. weeks ending All.
gust 2 and Mr.. Callahan said, Car
shortage caused tho htumnous coal
mines Of the country to lose approx
mately 100000 tons of coal enough
to supply the entire State of New
Jersey for ten months The loss In
ten weeks has been sufficient to sup
ply all the New England states for
eight months"
Mr.. Callahan declared that if there
are not cars at the mines, it is i'm
possible to operate the mines to full
time capacity, The shortage of cars
had comes he said, at the time de-
raand< for coal is increasing, and at a
Ame when railroad etAcishcy should
be at maximum.
IF the Bituminous coal operators
OF the country, are given sufficient
cars to take away the coal they
mine,'' Mr. Callahan said, and II there
1oh dicf,-rhanrN1 nrnUpt1t
the operation of their mines, they can
supply SUFFICIENT fuel to meet the
country's requirements next fall and
winter. II they are not supplied
with more cars, there undoubtedly
will be a repetition of the coal short
age of 1917-1S, at least to some de-
gree
Shortage of cars Is not alone the
only threatening situation in the in
dustry however, according to Harry
N. Taylor of Kansas City, President
of the Association, who preceded Mr.
Callahan on the witness stand. The
100000 miners employed throughout |
the nation are about to formulate |
demands for higher wages, Mr. Tay-
lor declared The more radical
among the number he said were en-
deavoring to apply the methods of
the Soviet Government of Russia, to |
the Btuminous industry. II their |
counsel should sway the more con-
sentative of their numbers and ex-
tremely radical demands should be |
made which could not be acceded to,
Mr.. Taylor said he doubted if the |
operators could mine pound of
coal"
"To save the public from calam-
ity," Mr. Taylor said, ut will be nee
essary to overcome three things: |
first, that we do not have an eXtraor-
dinariy severe winter; second that
the railroad administration move the |
coal in regular manner, and third,
that by effort of the miners we pro-
duce at least 11,00O 900 tons Of BIZ
luminous coal weekly for the remain
ing nineteen weeks of the year"
This is more than has been pro-
Iduced in any one week during the
year thus far
All wage agreements between min
ers and operators Mr.. Taylor said,
would expire with the proclamation
of peace by the President. The min
ers had already decided Mr. Taylor
said, he was informed, in one section
to try to obtain a six hour working
day as against eight hours now,
hve days week and an increase in
nay. They will meet in Cleveland,
Ohio, September 9th he said, 10 de-
eide on what demands to make of the
oprators, and there will be Joint
conference between operators and
miners, at Buffalo September 25th.
IF this convention of September
G5th, fails in agreement" +. Taylor
said Il do not know whether we are
going to be able to mine any coal or
not, l very seriously doubt whether
we will. With that condition con-
fronting us in tho mining world, the
situation is very serious. If that
goes into effect, there is little or no
hope of overcoming a very serious
shortage of coal this winter, and
great suffering in the country"
Miners were given a substantial
increase in wages by the President
during the days of the fuel admins
tration, Mr.. Taylor said, and it was.
not uncommon in many fields for the
industrious men, in times Of full time
operations, to earn SIS day or more.
But they are getting restless, he said.
Already the more radical element
are determined to put into effect the
Soviet Government o. Mines" he de-
clared.
Ancient Admonition.