The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-15
COMPLETE PLANS TO
 RELEASE SHIP COAL
LOSS of Weeks Output Not
 SeriOus-WiIl Not Hinder Return to Normal-Thirty- day Supply Held in Reserve.

Washington, Nov. 15.-Removal of the restrictions on bunker coal will be made as soon as it is evident that the miners are returning to work in considerab1 numbers, according to the decisions of the Central Coal Committee today, but it is not likely that the export embargo will be lift ed until conditions return complete y to normal.
 The Coal Committee was in session practically all day, making plans for the release of coal and the lifting of the priority list when conditions jus tify it. For the present, it may be said that no action will be taken Intl it is seen that the recall of ;he strike order is effective and will be obeyed by the miners.
 Opinion among members of the committee was distinctly optimistic. Evidence of this was the fact that for the first time since the strike was called, figures as to the supply and production of coal were allowed to become public. It was stated that more than 15O,OO0,00O tons of bitu- ninous coal alone are now availab ble, and that production in non-union mines has been running at 25 to 2S per cent. or normal
 With a return of the miners to work officials of the Fuel administra- ton believe that the coal situation will be com mpletely cleared up by the end of the week, so that unrestricted shipments to consignees may be made, and export traffic may be started again. It is considered likely that n further limitations will be placed upon bunker coal, and that within two or three days vessels of foreign registry may be allowed to take on supplies sufficient to last them for the round trip.
 It was learned today that the mo- dification of the bunker coal order of last Friday was due to the repre- sentations of a number of New York and Philadelphia coal and steamship men, who came here to convince the Central Coal Committee that the or der of the previous day would result in considerable hardships upon ocean traffic, and that it was necessary, a1- so, to allow ships to sail in order that coal cars might be released for return to the mines for further SUD- plies. It was pointed out that the linn ited storage capacities at the various seaports made it necessary to hold surplus supplies on wheel.
 The hesitation of the Coal Commit
 
 the use of bunker coal is due to un- certainty as to future developments, and not to a present shortage. If the miners go back whole-heartedly to- morrow, the supply is sufficient to resume all industrial activities at once. Officials of the Railroad Ad- ministration calculate that there is enough coal already above the ground to run the country for thirty days. The loss of a weeks output, therefore, is not so serious as to cause special com ern in itself.
 It is pointed out, however, that in a situation of this nature the needs of American enterprises call for first consideration, and accordingly, re- strictions upon shipments of export coal to Europe and even the supply ing of bunker coal for return trips in vessels of foreign registry must be held up until all uncertain conditions have been cleared up.