American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-07-04
May Be Repetition Of 1917-l6
Conditions Next Winter Says
Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS
Those Who Delay Ordering
Longer May Not Get Their
Fuel Later On.

nouncement Ia based. the Survey
states, upon a nationwide study a
conditions in the bituminous hcldI
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upo
q basis of increased production therO
Is every prospect of a repetition -
some degree of the situation that Pc
vailed In the United States during b
winter of l917-1S.
The only way production can be slim
ulated at the present time, II is said, -
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which will be needed later on
reproduction during the first Ave months
of the year." reads the statement, fen
81, 900 net tons, or approximately
25qo below production during the first
1--we months of 1918. Mines are produe
ing coal now at the rate of from S,OO0.-
900 to $500, 900 tons a week. An aver
age output OF TO- 100000 tons a week
must be maintained from June / TO
January 1 next II the country's astt
mated needs OF 500,000,000 tons this
year are to be met"
Evil Of Delayed Orders.
At no time during this year has the
rate Of production approached the ~
duired tonnage. The tendency on the
part of buyers to hold on placing their
ORDER is limiting production, as the
mines cannot store coa at the point al
production, and when the rush Of
orders for the winters needs comes
next fall there ia grave danger that
the mines, with depleted labor forces
and the probability of less adequata
transportation. will be unable TO meet
the demands. The result of such q St~
uation would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements of domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and industrial
users generally.
ut is believed that requirements fur
this year" reads a Survey statement
!, to Fuel Administrator Garfield, win
be about $50, 1000 tons Of bltuminous
coal, of which approximately 8o,000,00a
tons have beer used from stocks accu-
| mulated last year, leaving 5OO,OoO,OOa
a tons to be produced. or his 5O0,OOAr
600 tons 178,0O0,000 o were prodpc
/ ed during the first Ave months, leaving
goo 600 900 tons 10 be produced In the
n remaining 30 weeks, or an average OF
10,70O,O 900 tons a week.
'Thus far this year production has
been at the rate OF 100000 tons q
week. In 1918 production was Mt the
a rate of 1 100000 ons a week.
'"ThIs production will be difficult of ae'
complIshment. The capacity Of operst
. ing mines at the present time with Labor
" now on the payroll In about 1919 loves
thar II was last year. This deficiency
may be made up In part or wholly u
: the mines have orders sufficient to rur
them Ave or six days.a week unless TN
threatened exodus Of f~oreign-born labol
4 occurs.
May Be Car Shortage.
"present wage agreements betwes'
operators and miners expire witt
the proclamation Of peace by the Pref
Ident. A suspension Of mining oper
atIons while a new wage agreement
being negotiated would, Of course, ser
"a ously Interfere with tbs production O
coal and II II should occur during tn
fall would cause a panic among buyer
and consumers OF coal"
There lis no use In gambling upo
this or any other contingency, fuel ~
n%inistrntion officials say. Tit nrm
individual who wants to be sure Of q
sdeauate coal supply next winter ca
A-s- -. k..alnu pual nnNH ThNl
Is no other way such assuran'
can be obtained T~ransportation ak
III, promises TO be a limiting factor IL u
food tide Of demand comes at q tin
when the country's record crops a
being carried. In some districts
would appear certain that, notwft
standing the utmost endeavors of u
Railroad Administration and the ut
ization of its experience last fall, q
shortage will be a cause limiting bu
minous coal production, and for tn
reason II is problematical whether q
q expected production Of 600,0O0,00o to
can be attained this year.
Shortage Of labor already Ia = IA
tor that Is cutting down the output
some coal producing sections, accor
m. ing to the Surveys report. The oper
tors report that from $4,000 To 400
~foreIgn-born miners expect to return
Europe AS soon as they can get pai
ports and that many have already
8. turned. IL continued this moveme
will be capable Of producing bat o
results reduction OF the amount
coal mined in districts where the mi
lth labor IL largely foreign-born, and the
lsk are many such districts.
sh He who needs coal should hesits
be no longer. Nov IL the time 70 b