Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-20
PLACE COAL ORDER
IOWA DEALERS WOULD TAKE
FUEL HELD At CHICAGO.
Story in Chicago Tribune Telling OF
consestion Of Loaded Coal Cars at
Chicago and other Western Gem
tiers 6rinss Offer From Secretary Of
Dealers Association.

Seu'N'o NssoS'ah'SN'
The seriousness of the fuel situation
in Iowa was clearly reelected in a mes
sage sent Friday 10 tho Chicago Trib-
une by George Gregory, of this city
secretary OF the Iowa Coal Dealers AS
ISOLATION, in which information was
sought regarding thousands OF carloads
OF expensive eastern coal" held in the
Chicago yards. II evidence is needed
that the Iowa situation is serious /;
may be found in the message which
ADVISES the Tribune that Iowa co.il
dealers will take 1000 ears oil the coal
which the Tribune declares now is
hold at Chicago without buyens.
The Tribune, IN It's issue of Friday
declares the antidote for coal famine
while the miners strike continued
importation OF eastern coal into the
MIDDLE west-may develop into poison
unless a condition now prevailing is
be known yesterday"
sHousenuS OF SdrS fefo.
Eastern coal. started west before
the strike settlement was effected.
continues the Tribune. still is arriv-
Ing in Chicago and at other western
distributing centers. 1t is high priced
coal at the mine and the long haul
freight charges make its use here very
expensive. So. with middle western
coal now available, dealers. manufac-
turers and railroads are siGe-stepping
the eastern coal.
Thousands Of carloads of this coal
now are on sidings IN tbs central west
ern and northwestern regions. handi-
Gaping freight movement, passenger
movement, and movement OF freshly
mined middle western coal"
The Tribune says railroads admit
ted they were up a tree" and that
plans were being made 10 induce the
federal government or the railroad ad-
ministration TO accept the losses Incl
dental to equalizing the price Of the
eastern coal with that of the native
product, dispose OF It and release the
cars.
iowa Must Have Coal.
Il is no secret that the Iowa mines
are being operated with forces far
from normal size and in some mines it
is stated the operating force is mere
fraction of the regularly employed
crew. many Of the miners refusing to
return to work. Movement cot middle
western coal has been SLOW, almost
negligible, since the strike was brought
to an end. Iowa must have coal and
the situation Is such as TO warrant
the message sent by Mr.. Gregory TO
the Tribune, after he had read the
story. The message follows:
Chicago Tribune. Chicago. Ul-It
there Is any truth in your article on
page seventeen today I will be glad
to relieve the condition. Iowa uses
the best eastern coal and Is in such
dire need at the present time that I
can place 1000 cars OF domestic coal
with Iowa dealers OF unquestioned re-
sponsibility within twenty-four hours
after the assurance OF delivery. Can
you advise who can make disposition
OF coal referred to? George Gregory.
Secretary Iowa Coal Dealers Associa-
ton"
Local Situation Unimproved.
There was little or no Improvement
in the local situation in the past TWEEN
ty-four hours. One dealer received
two carloads Of Iowa coal and car
load Of dock splint from Duluth. A
carload Of coal for the county farm and
three carloads OF screenings from Du-
luth were received from Duluth for the
Western Grocer Company mills.
The scant receipts of the past week
are very insufficient when IL is under
stood that the average daily consump.
ton Of the city dealers trade {not in
GLIDING contract coal and coal deliv-
cred TO nanufacturers). Is Ave to six
carloads. The storage OF a winters
supply in a great many OF the homes OF
the city furnishes the only reserve
stock. Were it not for these stocks
Of coal the city would be absolutely
without coal in a very short time.
Must Understand Situation.
The public must understand the SIT
uation and not be blinded to real
facts by misjudging the actual needs
and the Importance Of the scant sup
ply that now is being received. The
statement that two or three carloads OF
coal mas Deen recSiVSu on Cpi 'fh'H
day seems to have occasioned the be-
lief that the city was sufficiently
stocked with fuel to meet any eneT-
gency.
with coal receipts no greater than at
present 1t Is hand-to mouth PROPOSE
ton Of caring for the homes and bus
mess institutions. Local dealers re-
port that the day after the strike SET
tlement queries were made at their Of
fees regarding immediate delivery OF
Franklin county coal and other popu-
lar varieties. the impression being that
with the resumption Of work the deal
ers might Immediately fill the orders
Of the most discriminating.
The fact is that Iowa needs coal and
needs 1t badly. and the situation in
Marshalltown is no better than else
where and is much more serious than
in many localities. q