New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-08-03
Coal Shortage Is
Predicted for Next
Winter by Experts
Production Is 100000
Tons Below Normal and
Lack of Cars Adds to the
. Danger of Grave Famine

CHARLESTON, w. Va. Aug. o
Threats Of an impending fuel famine.
voiced many weeks ago by the National
Coal ASSOCIATION, government authori-
ties and individual coal operators. an
pear about to be realized.
with car shortage that is gradu-
ally increasing and many mines receiv.
ing less than so per cent of their re-
qulrements of rolling stock. and MANY
other causes contributing to reduced
tonnage, the situation now appears to
De much more than efforts of operators
10 stimulate summer buying.
The reports of the United States
Geological Survey sustain the forecasts
of the coal operators. producti GI"' Of II
bituminous coal on August | is an
proximately S5,0O0,000 tons short Of
production for the same period of 1918.
and the daily average production con-
tlnues about 100000 tons less than last
year.
Shortage in Europe
The foreign situation has aggravated
tonnage conditions in the coal fields Of
the United States and coal producers
are preparing for at least 10000 COO
tons of export shipments. England
france, Italy and South American coun-
tries Will consume at least that ton
mage fro mthe American mines. The
situation in England is acute and fore
casts Tor the present year show a de-
CINE IN production IN comparison with
De pre-war period France has not an
adequate supply OF coal in normal
times, and with her mines DESTROYED
must import coal for Industrial CON
sumption. ltaly's problem is still
more prepleNlng, that nation normally
oh
ferior coal a year
10 encourage production the Federal
railroad Administration has issued an
order to place in operation in the East
erh car pool the 5000 cars constructed
under order of the administration and
when nave remained idle on railroad
Sldetracks. Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad officials were directed to place
-'O00 OF these cars in operation. while
i'ooo have been allocated to the Balti-
more and Ohio road The Pennsvl-
wanna lines will receive several thou
SAND OF these cars when they have been
numbered and stenciled by tho Rail
road Administration. These cars Will
De placed in the service under the per
o'em agreement which has existed.
Cars in Poor Condition
While it will result in stimulating
production, the supply viii not be
large enough to avert shortage of
coal during the winter, for there are a
number of other reasons contributing
to decreased coal production.
Secretary w. II. Cunningham, of the
west Virginia Coal Association. re-
cites that the reports made to the as
soclation show an increased number of
cars IN operation nthe railroads this
year, but he shows that the number of
Dad order cars make the greatest ac-
cumulation in the history of the rail
roads. The reports of the Chesapeake
ana Ohio Railroad, showing 1000 cars
on that system, discloses that 800
cars are not in operation and marked
IN bad order On the Kanawha and
Michigan and the Baltimore and Ohio
roads, trunk lines traversins the West
Virginia fields, 1919 per cent and u
per cent, respectively. of their total
number of cars are bad order equip
ment.