The Glenwood post., 1919-07-05
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay 0rdsEAs
Longer May Not Get Their
Fuel Later On.

conditions in the bituminous dsld.
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upon
basis Of increased production there
Is every prospect Of q 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 hve months
Of the year." reads the statement, "fell
1922, 900 net tons, or approximately
2b1s below production during the first
i've months Of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate Of from 60O0,-
900 to S,o00, 900 tons 4 week. An aver
age output Of 100000 tons a week
must be maintained from June 1 to
January next II the country's esti-
mated needs Of 500O00.O 900 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-
quired tonnage. The tendency on the
part Of buyers to hold OF placing their
orders Is limiting production, a. the
mines cannot store coal at the point Of
production. and when the rush Of
orders for the winters needs comes
next fall there IL grave danger that
the nines, with depleted labor forces
and the probability Of less adequate
transportation, will be unable to meet
the demands. The result of such q sit
uation wsslA - a insuflcient supply
for the requirements Of domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and industrial
users generally.
TT Is believed that requirements for
this year." reads q Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, "will
be about CSC, 0,oOo,0 900 tons Of bitumInous
coal. Of which approximately o,000. 900
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 600, ,000, 900
tons to be produced. OF this 500, ,00O- :
600 tons 17sOOO0O0 tons were produc-
ed during the first Ave months, leaving
322 ,OOO, 900 tons to be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks, or an average Of
1o,700, O. tons 4 week.
Thus far this year production has
been at the rate Of e.2OO.O00 tons 4
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate Of Il, 300, 900 tons a week.
'sThis 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 II
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them five or six days week unless the
threatened exodus Of foreign-bo 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-
ations while a new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, Of course. seri-
ously interfere with the production of
coal and II 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 of'icials say. The arm or
Individual who wants to be sure Of an
adequate coal supply next winter can
be certain By buying coal now. There
10 NO other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises to be limiting factor II the
flood tide of demand comes at q time
when the country's record crops are
would appear certain that, notwith-
standing the almost endeavors Of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
ization Of Its experience last fall, car
shortage will be cause limiting butt
minous coal production. and for that
reason 1t IL problematical whether the
expected production Of 500, ,O0O. 900 tons
can be attained this year.
Shortage Of labor already 10 . fac
tor that 10 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
foreign-born miners expect to return to
Europe ~ soon a. they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
turned. II continued this movement
will be capable Of producing but one
result reduction Of the amount Of
coal mined In districts where the mine
labor 10 largely foreign-born, and thsrs
are many such districts.
He who nssds coal should hesitats
no loneee. Now b he tine 70 huy
M unu>>- An~ nANn ~ AhA~ AN4Aa