Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-06-26
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.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.

y
announces from Washington the prob
ability of another general coal short |
age next fan and winter. The an
nouncement is based, the Survey
states, upon nationwide study of
conditions in the bituminous field
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upon
a 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
The only way productions can be slim
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 five months
of the year." reads the statement, "fell
~ 49, 600 net tons. or approximately
2oeo below production during the first
FIVE months OF 1918 Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate of from S,000,-
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 estl-
mated needs Of 50o,000,oo0 tons this
year are to be met"
Evil OF Delayed Orders.
AT no time during this year has the
rate OF production approached the re-
quiled 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, will be unable to meet
the demands. The result OF such sit
uation would be an insufficient supply
| for the requirements of domestic con
sumers, public utilities and Industrial
users generally.
1T is believed that requirements for
this year. reads a Survey statement,
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, will
be abost 530,000,000 tons OF bituminous.
coal, of which approximately 30000,000i
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 500000,000
tons to be produced. OF this 100000
600 tons 17S,000,000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
3ee22, 100000 tons TO be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks, or an average of
100000 tons week.
Thus far this year production has
been at the rate of S200.000 tons
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate Of 100000 tons week
This production will be difficult OF &C.
cofnplishrnent The capacity of operat-
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll is about 1910 lower
than il was last year. This deficiency
may be made up in part or wholly If
the mines have orders sufficient TO run
them five or six days a 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 a new wage agreement is
being negotiated would, of course, seri-
ously interfere with the production OF
coal and if it should occur during the
fall would cause a panic among buyers
and consumers Of ccal
There is no use in gambling upon
this or any other contingency, fuel adj
ministration officials say The firm or
individual who wants to be sure of an
adequate coal supply next winter can
lie certain by buying coal now. There
is no other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises to be limiting factor If the
flood tide of demand comes at time
when the country's record crops are
being carried In some districts it
would appear certain that. notwitl-
Standing the utmost epdeayors Of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
ization Of its experience last fall, car
Shortage will be a cause limiting butt
minous coal production, and for that
reason it is predetermined whether the
expected production of 500,000,000 tons
can be attained this year.
Shortage Of labor already is fac
tor that is cutting down the output in
some coal producing sections, accord.
ing to the Surveys report. The opera
tors report that from $4,000 10 10000 /
foreign-born miners expect to return to !
Europe as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
turned. II continued this movement |
viii be capable of producing bur one
resuIt-a reduction of the amount OF /
coal mined in districts where the mine
labor is largely foreign-born, and there
are many such districts
He who needs coal should hesitate !
no longer. Now Is the time to buy
coal