Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1919-08-02
ANYL|SES POSSIBILITY NATIONAL COAL FAMINE

Washington, D. c. August 2, 1919. To test the correctness of the various statements made relative b the dan ger of a national coal famine this win ter The American Mining Congress
 has analysed the situation and has is
 sued the following appeal to it's mem-
 bership for cooperation with the coal producers in urging quick develop ment of the industrial fuel market. "A large percentage of industrial fuel users are treating lightly the warnings of the National Coal Asso- citation that industrial consumers of power coal are facing a shortage in supply when the peak of the coal movement arrives. For the guidance of our members we wish to place the following analysis. before them and to urge that every one cooperate to urge quick development for early delivery of all needed fuel. Possibly some statements made in the campaign to
 build the market have been over
 drawn, but a consideration of the con-
 bined elements controlling the situa- ton leads to the conclusion that the most complete ooperation between
 buyers, railroads and producers will
 be necessary to meet market require ments. We submit the Allowing facts upon which the conclusion is based: Anthracite producers are meeting fine response and every ton is sold as fast as produced. Domestic fuel or
 ders, in the East especially are we'll balanced.
 Industrial consumers were led to |over-buy under stimulus of the Fuel
 Administration propaganda and at the wartime price. Thousands thus over supplied are using coal on hand and withholding orders for possible price
 decline. Logically every element points to continued established price
 or higher level. Coal mines can only produce when transportation Is avail able. 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 cor,- modities is, in normal years. enor- |mous, and this year, with cay shortage in sight, Europe crying for food and stiff wheat price forcing every bushel |lnto market there will be "jan," ev- 
 Because of lack of orders, coal men have been unable to estimate to the |Rallroad Administration the probable movement, hence Director Hines has been unable to make plans, but 4,OOO |extra locomotives have been put in rendition and held in reserve. More ! |new locomotives have been delivered since January 1st, last than were de- |livered all last year. Twenty five new engines were delivered last week.
 Statements estimating tn. amount of |coal cars unfit for service at 100000 | with 190,000 of these unserviceble on |bne line along (The Pennsylvania
 tailroad) seem not to he borne out by | railroad figures but 3b or fully 9O,- | poo of the open-tops are either out Pf commission or in shops. There has been costly delay in making repairs Pnd in replacing worn oqt rolling ftock,-many railroads refusing to meet the repair bills and holding the Administration responsible. MT.
 Hines has solved the situation by talk |ng responsibility and today every
 Available repair man is at work, all fhops are working full time and 5000
 Pennsylvania cars are Tn outsi1e shops
 nder contract.
 "The enormous advance in cost Of failding new cars (50OOO box, 25,OOO kondolas and 25,C00 other open tops,
 I'd to refusal of many companies to
 ccept the new cars at the war-con-
 fact price, and Director Hines is ap-
 ointing Trustee to place the new
 hrs in service, control their r,ove-
 bent and settle the price later.
 Another element which will con
 fol, is labor. Even if the wage in
 rease is avoided-and many produ-
 ers expect the increase coal miner
 hn only produce so many pounds per lay. He can only be multiplied t3 the pine capacity, and unless the cars can
 e moved-empties in and loaded out
 the mine cannot produce to capa- kty. If the wage increase comes
 hundreds of Thigh cost" properties
 hay be forced to close down, thus fssening the supply.
 There are no sensational disclosur-
 coming as has been promised, to
 bow direct incompetency but state f war could hardly produce more
 Effective block to normal movement of bel.
 Members will do we'll to protect hemselves and warn their friends"
 THE AMERICAN MINING CON-