Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1919-06-27
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.

The United States Geological Survey
announces from Washington the prob
ability of another general coal short
age next fall and winter. The an
nouncement is 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 a repetition to
some degree of the situation that pre-
vailed in the United States during the
winter of 1918.
The only way production can be stim-
| ulated at the present time, 1t is said, Is
| by placing orders with the mines for
| coal which will be needed later on.
production during the first five months
of the year." reads the statement, fell
81, ,292, 900 net tons, or approximately
| $3.50 below production during the first
| five months Of 1913. Mines are produc-
| ing coal now at the rate Of from S,OOO,-
600 to 100000 tons week. An aver
age output Of 100000 tons a week
must be maintained from June l TO
| January l next If the country's esti-
mated needs Of 50O,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 re-
| quired tonnage The tendency on the
part of buyers to hold off 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 is grave danger that
I 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
uation would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements Of domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and industrial
users generally.
/
this year." reads a Survey statement
TO Fuel Administrator Garfield, will
be about 530,000,000 tons of bituminous
coal, of which approximately 10000, 900
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year. leaving 00,000,0O0
tons to be produced. or this SOC, 0,000,-
900 tons 17S,O00,000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
30, 100000 tons to be produced in the
| remaining 30 weeks, or an average of
| 10, 100000 tons a week
| "Thus far this year production has
been at the rate of 100000 tons a
week. In. 1918 production was at the
rate Of IL 100000 tons a week.
"Thls 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 1870 lower
than ii was last year. This deficiency
may be made up in part or wholly If
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them five or six days a week unless the
threatened exodus Of foreign-born labor
occurs.
May Be Car Shortage.
present wage agreements between
operators and miners expire, with
the proclamation of peace by the Pres
ident. A suspension of mining oper-
ations while new wage agreement is
being negotiated would, of course, seri.
ously interfere with the production OF
coal and IL 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-
ministration officials say. The firm or
individual who wants to be sure Of al
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 be limiting factor If the
food tide OF demand comes at a time
when the country's record crops are
being carried. In some districts II
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.
mlnous coal production, and for that
reason IL is problematical whether the
expected production of 500 0O0, 900 tons
can be attained this year.