Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-07-02
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.


nouncement is based, the Survey
states, upon a 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 1917-18.
The only way production can be stiln-
ulated at the present time, it 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
81, 1892, 900 net tons, or approximately
25f6 below production during the first
five months Of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate of from $780,
900 to 9,5OO,OOO tons a week. An aver
age output Of 100000 tons a week
must be maintained from June to
January l next if the countrys esti-
mated needs of 5OOOOO,OOO 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-
! CURED 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.
at is believed that requirements for
this year" reads Survey statement
| to Fuel Administrator Garfield. twill
be about 53O000O00 tons of bituminous
coal, of which Approximately so 100000
tons have been used from stocks accu-
INFLATED last year, leaving $50 100000
tons to be produced or this 100000.
900 tons 17SO00000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
800, 100000 tons to be produced in the
remaining 80 weeks, or an average Of
100000 tons a week.
THUS far this year production has
been at 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 &C.
complishment 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
j ident. A suspension Of mining oper-
atoms while q new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, of course, seri-
ously interfere with the production of
coal and If 1t should occur during the
fall would cause panic among buyers
and consumers Of COAL"
There Is no use in gambling upon
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 IL the
flood tide of demand comes at a time
when the countrys record crops are
being carried. In some districts It
would appear certain that, notwlth-
standing the utmost endeavors of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
ization Of It's experience last fall, car
shortage will be cause limiting butt
minous coal production, and for that
reason 1t is predetermined whether the
expected production Of 100000 900 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 10000 to 10000
foreign-born miners expect to return to
Europe as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
turned, If 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 is the time to buy