Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-07-04
May Be Repetition Of 19l7-l8
Conditions Next Winter Says
Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay Ordering
Longer May Not Get Their
Fuel Later On.

dnIiilN vi dHolItFT 2SHPFHI coal SIlOEl-
age next fan and winter. The an
nOuncement is based, the Survey
states, upon a nationwide study of
conditions in the bitumnous field
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, 10 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 slim
ulated al the present time, it is said, is
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which will be needed later on.
"Pr0ductiOn during the first five months
OF the year reads the statement, fell
51,292,OOO net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the first
five months of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now a The rate of from $780,
600 to S.5OO.OOO 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 500,O0O,OO0 tons this
year are to he 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, az 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 a sit
nation 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 Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, will
be about 530,O0O,000 tons of bitumnous
coal, of which approximately 10000, 900
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 500,000,0O0
tons to be produced. OF this 100000
900 tons 1TS,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
10,700,0 600 tons a week.
THUS far this year production has
been at the rate Of 8,200,0OO tons
week. In 1918 production was at tho
rate of II 100000 tons a week.
This production will be difficult of ac-
complishment. The capacity of operat-
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll is about 1922 lower
than it was last year. This deficiency
may be made up In part or wholly il
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them five or six days week unless the
threatened exodus of foreign-b born labor
occurs.
May Be Car Shortage.
Present wage agreements between
operators and miners expire with
ident. A suspension of mining ODer-
) ations 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 a panic among buyers
and consumers of coal"
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
be certain by buying coal now. There
is no other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises TO he a limiting factor If the
flood tide of demand comes at a time
p 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-
lZation of its experience last fall, car
shortage will be cause limiting butt
minous coal production, and for that
reason 1t is problematical whether the
expected production of 500000,0OO 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 36.00G to 4O.
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
resuit--a reduction Of the amount of
coal mined in districts where the mine
labor Is largely foreign-boin, and there
are many such districts.
He who needs coal should hesitate
no longer. Now is the time to buy
coal