The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-29
COLD WEATHER
SEES DISTRESS
Scarcity OF Coal in Northern
States Acutely Felt

Washington, Nov. 2o.-Wlth less
than 40 per cent. Of the normal out
put of bitu1ninous coal being pro-
duced, the nation is facing its most
serious period since the strike of soft
coal miners, was ordered, according
20 reports received today by the rail
road administration. In scores of
cities the number Of Industries IN op-
Grafton is rapidly falling while the
nations coal bin continues TO dl-
minish.
officials held ont only ray Of hope
for increased production. While last
weeks production showed an in
crease over the previous week and in
dications were for a production OF
about SO per cent of normal this
week officials said they could not ex-
pect sufficien. production to check
the drain on the national supply un-
til all differences between the miners
and operators are ironed out by the
conference here.
Meanwhile temperatures in the
northern half Of the nation have
dropped and the cry fer coal for
household purposes grows louder. SO
far, the SUPPLIES have been dealt out
rather literally to meet this demand
it was said, but further releases o.
coal must be limited if the nation Is
not to face a serious tieup OF industry
as we'll as transportation before nor
NAL production is again reached.
Ranks of the sq6 coal miners while
-, ;.,o. co,,,o IA ,c II, mon returning g
10 work. still HI |hrm, reports show
ed, in some districts, it was said, men
have gone back to their jobs IN large
numbers but in many mining areas
tie union ties have continued to Keep
the mines closed.
Reviewing the coal supply. situation
tho railroad administration reported
tioat 22,C00,000 tons were held under
it's distributing system on November
2, the second day of the waiko'lt.
Sirce then these stocks together With
current production have been drawn
en- to supply fuel for the railroads.
ships. public utilities, essential indus
tries and public welfare institutions
as well as for household uses.
The railroad administrators cen
tral coal committe still is holding
the thousands OF cars OF export coal
assembled at Atlantic tidewater
ports. Officials declared that, con-
trary to reports conditions were nor
NAL at the porls where this reserve
supply of coal is held anf that no car
congestion was being e1 Ristsd:
Describing the SlO1 n pro-
duction, the railroad ions
statement said:
I'm the firsKweS of the
In he first week on the
coal loaded daily was g. Or IS per
cent Of the pre-strike average; in
the second week loading was at the
rate ot~r0, sos cars, or 80 per cent. OF
the >4formal rate, gain over the first
week of Il per cent. Last week. fAe
third of the strike production steal
iIy increased and reached nearly 30
per cent. of normal. The present
week promises so far still better
showing.
production now is mainly in f2e
East. in the South and in the Rock!
Mountain region. In the central States
where bituminous coal is so larS sly
used, there is little or NO present out
put. The railroads have the difficulty
and unusual task OF moving west
large part Of the production Of sucn
fields as the Pocahontas and Pennsyl-
vania fields that normally moves east
The 100000 tons. the railroad had
on Noyem Der was as evenly divided
a. possible over the contry but IN
the sections where there had been no
production. supplies have become de-
pleted and coal from the eastern pro-
ducing fields has been and is being
sent west TO fill these needs"