Connecticut western news., 1919-07-17
COAL SHORTAGE ON WAY; GOVT.
 SAYS BUY NOW
May Be Repetition of 1917-18 Conditions Next Winter Says
 Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay Ordering Longer, May Not Get Their
 Fuel Later On. t

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 1 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 the winter of 1917-18 ,7s
 The only way production can be stim- ulated at the present time, it 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 57, ,292, ,000 net tons, or approximately 258o below production during the first five months of 1918 Mines are produc- Ing coal now at the rate of from 5000 900 to 8,5O0,000 tons a week. An aver age output of 1O,70O000 tons a week must be maintained from June 1 to January 1 next if the country's esti- 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 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 tie 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.
 Tt is believed that requirements for this year." reads Survey statement to Fuel Administrator Garfield, twill be about 30,0OO,O0 tons of bituminous coal, of which approximately 30000,000 Etons have been used from stocks accu- mulated last year, leaving 500,000O00 tons to be produced. Of this 500,000,- 900 tons 178,O0O,0O0 tons were produc- ed during the first five months, leaving 322, 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 8,200,000 tons a week In 1918 production was at the rate of Il, ,3O0,000 tons week.
 "This 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 109o lower than it 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 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 o1 , coal and if 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 ar adequate coal supply next winter car be certain by buying coal now. There is no other way such assurance can be obtained. Transportation also
 promises to be limiting factor if tn,
 flood tide of demand comes at a time
 when the country's record crops art
 being carried. In some districts fl would appear certain that, notwith I standing the utmost endeavors of tho j. Railroad Administration and the util ization of its experience last fall, cal shortage will be cause limiting bitu : minous coal production, and for tha reason 1t Is proDlemat1cal whether tht 8 expected production of 500,000,OoO ton: e can be attained this year.
 B Shortage of labor already is a fac 8 tor that Is cutting down the output il
 some coal producing sections, accord
 ing to the Surveys report. The opera
 tors report that from 36OOO to 4O,O0 |: foreign-born miners expect to return t h Europe as soon as they can get pass l. ports and that many have already re y turned. If continued this movemen 7, will be capable of producing but on d result-a reduction of the amount O l. coal mined in districts where the min labor is largely foreign-born, and ther h are many such districts.
 r. H4 who needs coal should hesitat n no longer. Now is the time to bu
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