The Meeker herald., 1919-07-05
COAL SHORTAGE
ON way; GOVT.
SAYS BUY NOW
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.

fueI lAteT VJls
The United States Geological Survey
announces from Washington the prob
ability Of another general coal short
age next fall and winter. The an
nouncement IL 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
basis Of increased production there
is every prospect Of repetition to
some degree Of the situation that pre-
vailed in the United States during tho
winter of 1917-18.
The only way production can be slim
ulated at the present time. 1t is said. 10
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which will be needed later on.
production during the first 1--WE months
Of the year." reads the statement, "fell
~ ,292 600 net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the FIRST
Ave months of 1913. Mines are produc-
Ing coal now at the rate of from 6.O00.-
900 to $500, 900 tons q week. An aver
age output Of 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June to
January / next II the country's estl-
mated needs. Of 50O.O0O.O 900 tons this
year are to be met"
Evil Of Delayed ordsss.
At no time during this year has the
rate Of production approached the re-
qulred tonnage. The tendency on the
part Of buyers to hold OF 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 10 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.
ut Is believed that requirements for
this year." reads . Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, will
be about $50. 600 600 tons of bituminous
coal. Of which approximately 30.000.0 900
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 500 100000
600 tons $4,000, 900 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months. leaving
322,OOO.OOO tons to be produced In the
remaining 80 weeks, or an average of
10. 100000 tons 4 week.
"Thus far this year production has
been at the rate Of 100000 tons 4
week. In 1918 production was at the
rate Of II 800. 900 tons 4 week.
This production will be dificult Of &C
complIshment. The capacity of operat.
ing mines at the present time with labor
now on the payroll " about 1915 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 i've or six days week unless the
threatened exodus of foreign.born labor
occurs
May ss Car shortage.
present wage agreements between
operators and miners expire with
the proclamation Of peace by the Pres
ident. A suspension Of mining oper-
atoms while new wage agreement IL
belng 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-
minlstration officials say. The firm or
individual who wants to be sure of an
adequate coal supply next winter can
he certain by buying coal now. There
Is no other way such, assurance
can be obtained. Transportation also
promises to be a limiting factor II the
flood tide of demand comes at a time
when the country's record crops arc
being carried. In some districts 1t
would appear certain that, notwith.
standing the utmost endeavors Of the
Railroad Administration and the util-
ization of its experience last fall, car
shortage will be cause limiting btu
minous coal production, and for that
reason 1t Is problematical whether the
expected production of 10000, 900 tons
can be attained this year.
Shortage of labor already 10 q 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 as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
turned. II 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 10 largely foreign.born. and there
are many such districts,