The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-26
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.

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 1917-1S.
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
! 81 ,292, 900 net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the first
five months of 1918 Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate Of from $780,
900 to S,500,000 tons a week. An aver
age output of 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June l to
January l next if the country's esti-
mated needs of 500000,000 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
CURED 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
the 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. 't', a'''.+a'5a @
at is believed that requirements for
this year." reads a Survey statement
i ~ a NSA alOA Will
be about $4,000 900 tons of bituminous
coal, of which approximately 10000, 900
tons have been used from stocks accu-
| muated last year, leaving 500 100000
tons to be produced. OF this 100000
600 tons 17S000,000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
322 100000 tons to be produced in the
remaining 80 weeks, or an average Of
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 100000 tons a 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 1870 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. suspension of mining oper-
atoms while a new wage agreement is
being negotiated would, of course, seri-
/ ously interfere with the production of
! 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 adj
| ministration officials say. The firm or
individual who wants TO be sure of an
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 q limiting factor If the
flood tide of demand comes at a time
when the countrys record crops are
being carried. In some districts 1t
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
, minous coal production, and for that
reason 1T is predetermined whether the
expected production of 500,000,000 tons
can be attained this year.
:, Shortage of labor already Is a fac.
} tor that is cutting down the output ir
| some coal producing sections, accord
5 ing to the Surveys report. The opera,
tors report that from $4,000 to 10000
/ foreign-born miners expect to return tt
r Europe as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re
< turned. If continued this movement
will be capable of producing but one
result-a reduction of the amount OF
coal mined in districts where the mine
labor is largely foreign-born, and there
! are many such districts.
He who needs coal should hesitat,
: no longer. Now Is the time to buy
III coal, \. ~. =.