The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-13

WEEKS MAY BE REQUIR-
ED TO REACH NORMAL
Government Officials Warn Peo-
pie Not to Expect Abundance
of Coal at Once

Washington, Dec. 10.-ENpreSs:on
by government officials of satisfac-
rion at the settlement Of nationwide
strike of bitumnols coal miners were
coupled tonight With warnings TO the
American people that early reiaxa-
ton of the drastic restriction on the
consumption Of coal must not be eX-
pectcd. Federal Administrator Car
field Immediately on receipt OF Wort'
that the miners in Indianapolis had
agreed TO accept the presidents pro
posal declared that immediate re-
moval of regulations on soft coal
consumption was not TO be conSld-
cred.
Director General Hines in a form
al statement asserted that dislocation
created by the strike could not be
remedied instantly The public, Nj.
Hines said, will be expected TO con-
tinue conserving fuel until normal
conditions are restored. AS soon as
practical restrictions will be rcsclnd-
ed or modified.
.As "a preliminary to bringing back
normal conditions said the director
general. coal mined will BE- allowed
to run as billed except the tidewatef
and import embargo will continue.
Orders placed for coal into western;
pccahontas and Allegheny regions
will be cancelled, bat coal billed or
these orders prior 10 cancellation will
be permitted, to go and be expedited
so that these cars can be promptly
released for mines"
The railroad administration, Dlrec-
.or Hines announced, would aid it'
meeting the needs Of other consum-
ers by reducing its supply TO a ter
days' margin The administration
had been maintaining 10 day sup
ply.
While these two government agen-
cics directly concerned with distrlb-
ution of the avilable supply of btu
mipous coal--which il is estimated
has been cut Sc, 900. 600 tons by the
40 day strike-were issuing ther
warnings, White House officials IL
dicateG that steps would be taken 70
carry out the provisions of the presl-
dents proposal relating to lnvestl-
CATION of wages and working condl-
tons in the bituminous fields by q
commission of three. In fact, 1t was
intimated that the president already.
had practically decided on the ap-
pointments TO the commission and
was awaiting the return Of Attorney
General Palmer from indianapolis
before making the announcement
The dislocation which the strike
has created in the production. trans
portation and distribution Of Goa, car
not be instantly remedird. said D!-
rector General Hines in his state
ment, "and pending readJus;n'en'
It is highly important for the publ.
to continue to eXercisc sre:t cauuo;.
in the consumption of coal AID :: l.
hoped there will be Il Que apprecia-
ton Of difficulties which cannot be I'M
mediatelv. overcome.
During the strike the weekly pro-
duction of coal was cut from 11.o0o,-
900 to 12,000.000 tons TO about a.0Qo,-
600 tons and this mueh reduced ton
mage was mostly milfed in Pcnnsyl-
vania and West Virginia.
Widrly distant portions of the
country which We're ordinarily de-
pendent upon other coal fields had to
be supplied from these and other un-
usual sources of supply. The result
has been that the railroad admins
tration been compelled to transport
coal over the most unusual routes
md for distances far in excess "f the
normal ha1lS Thi:; has resulted IN
equipment being scattered widely TO
other parts of the country. y PERIOD
Of time will be required for the com
plete relocation Of this equipment
and meanwhile ii is not to be aatlcl-
pa1cd that ell mines can be suppIleo
with cars to The full normal extent