The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-06-27
COAL SHORTAGE =
ON Way GOVT.
SAYS BUY NOW
May Be Repetition Of 1917-1s
Conditions Next Winter Says
Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay Ordering
Longer May Not Get Their
Fuel Later On.

/ y
announces from Washington the prob
ability of another general coal short
age next fall 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 repetition to
some degree of the situation that pre-
vailed in the United States during the
winter of 1917-1S.
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 five months
of the year." reads the statement, "fell
57,292,000 net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the first
| five months of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate of from S,000,-
900 to 100000 tons a week. An aver
age output of 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June ! to
January / next If the country's esti-
mated needs of 5oO.OOO,0O0 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-
qulred 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.
ut Is believed that requirements for
| this year." reads a Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, twill
be about $50, 100000 tons of bituminous
coal, Of which approximately 100000
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 500000,000
| tons to be produced. OF this 500 000,-
600 tons 178,000,000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
800, 100000 tons to be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks, or an average of
100000 tons week.
"Thus far this year production has
been ut the rate of 100000 tons a
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate of II 100000 tons a week.
This production will be difficult of ac-
complshment The capacity of operat-
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll is about 1919 lower
than 1t 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 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 panic among buyers
and consumers Of coal"
There is no use in gambling unon
this or any other contingency, fuel ad-
ministration officials say. The firm or
individual who wants to be sure of an
adequate coal supply next winter can
be certain by buying coal now. There
Is no other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises to be limiting factor If the
food tide Of demand comes at time
when the country's record crops are
being carried In some districts 1t
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 cause limiting btu
minous coal production, and for that
reason II Is problematical whether the
expected production of 100000 tons
can be attained this year.
| Shortage Of labor already Is a 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 to 10000
f0reign-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
! will be capable Of producing but one
result--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 ID the time to buy
coal 49,
ALI the news--$1. so the year