Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-30
GRAVE CONCERN IS FELT
FOR SUPPLY OF FUEL
asserted That Shortage May Have
Unfortunate Effect on Recon.
struction Work.
IMPORTANT FACTS GAINED
Northwestern Coal Rate Case, Re-
Gently Tried in Court. Brings Ont
Many Facts rs 10 Exact Situa-
ton.
BY J. FRED EssARY.

WASHiNGToN. June Sa.-Ciravc con-
Germ is felt in Washington over both |
the possibility and tho prospect of a
serious coal shortage in this country
before the end OF the calendar year.
shortage which would have a most UNI
fortunate effect upon the industrial re.
construction now under way, and which
WOULD result in severe losses in many
directions.
arc beginning 10 feel alarm over the
immediate future as indicated by tho
making nation wide appeal TO its
inemoers TO speed up production. not
wit l,tt the uncertainty. o, the
M na-; ana ne hesnatlnS sttiiude on
fuel throushout the country. The posi-
tion OF this organization is that soon
for coal, but IL this demand docs not
actually develop, until next winter il
may be too late FOR the operators to
meet IT.
hand, take the very rcasonybie posi-
ton that the great consuming inter
ests themselves. should exercise a de-
vantage OF the summer months to store
larger quantities OF coal asains; the
s sxpse5Id rGI bsj Of industrS ,nereby
risks may be involved in increasing tho
OUTPUT OF coal at such q season as
now exists.
Gain Important Facts.
r so,tn eNtSeoinS!I important tacts
United States have just been brought
out in connection With the North
western coal rate case before tho In
which have a bearing upon tho coal in
dustrE as a whole. The railroad adj
mony in tho case. made public a mem
orandum on the coal situation" as OF
June J, 1919. prepared by the statisti-
cal bureau OF the fuel administration.
ord l,N
$. Bronson, OF Richmond. Va. general
claims attorney of the Chesapeake and
after showing. that tho output OF coal
for the first five months OF 1919 Was
only 7S.3s4'ooo tons. as against 90
$4,000 tons for the same period Of
OF this propositions:
Two points should now I've cousd-
cred: Will something less than 500
cient for the calendar ycar 1919. and
If hoo.ooo.0oo tons arc needed, Will tho
coal INDUSTRY be aole to produce: and
coal in the remainder OF the year TO
bring the total above 100000. 900
it is thercupon pointed out by the
fuel administration that since 1907,
when the production Was 81? 700. ooU
tons, the output has exceeded 400, onU.-
500, 600 tons. production has Exceeded
\, 900. 600, 600 tons. IL it should he as
,spn1ed that the output OF the bitumi-
MUS mines In tho first five months OF
1912 represents 50 per cent of the an
nual output. tho total this year will he
,e.s than the, production in the years
See Lnck OF Demand
The decrease in production which
took place in 1905, following the panic
period of 1907. when the output wen:
OF IS per cent, furnishes tho only
parallel in percentage decrease to that
Of 1919. the administration shows
notwithstanding the decrease in 1905
II Is stated. there was no difficulty
worthy or note, encountered in the fall
or 1905 BY consumers in securing coal.
the decrease was due 70 lack OF de-
mand which accompanied business de-
prossion. Such is the situation al tho
present moment; lack of demand is
and has been since the armis,ice. cur
tailinS the production of bituminous
COAL
The fuel administrs ,icn cites the
tu.ther circumstance that upwards OF
apms The 'o snm mere and nl II
which indicates that the consumption
OF coal last year was around 100000.
or . per cent, The production OF coke
- 1919 Was 100000. tons more than
IN 1917. and the railroads.; consumed
!. I54.e52.o0o tons in 1915, as tompsrcd
With 1876, 900 in 1917.
- Consumption for 1919.
'S.s with consumption in 1915 includ-
ing eS? Hso 81, ana on snip hnnksrs O.
be assumed the requirements Will be
in the calendar wear 1917" the fuel
administration asks. The railroads
either Of the Two years Immediately
past. The production OF both Kinds
ofToke for the tlrst FIVE months OF the
tons, o.. per cen; less than the cor
depending period IN 1918 The pro-
auction Of heehivc coke was much less
OF by-product coke. because o: the in
Increased
: Al this point ii is shown that should
the demand for export coal Increase
the tonnage needed for that purpose
Will scarcely exceed that of las, year
tone. Tt is the belief .. tie fuel ad-
riinistration that the requirements for
this yea Will be around 10000 900
tom tons OF wh,eh appr,oximai;eiy 200 900
chmulated last wear. OF this 100000
900 tons 70 nc produced II the coun-
g try's industries arc 10 be supplied i.S-
100000 tons were mined in the FIRST
five months o. the year. leaving 3oo-
ooeoeO tons n T. to ne prodreed in The re.
OF 10,1oo,0oo tons week.
Dinicu,t 10 Produce.
This production will he difficult of
accomplishment" SAYS the fuel admin
istration in summing NJ; The capacity
Il o. operating lnlIeS Al tEe present ;If!Ie.
with the labor now OH the pay roll is
about 10 per cent loweg than Il, WAS
last year This deficiency, in part or
in whole, may b made up u. and
when. the mines have sufncicut orders
tb run them i've SIX days week
unless the much talked about and
threatened exodus Of foreign labor
takes place
"a suspension Of mine operations
while new vase agreement is be-
dnE negotiated TO SUCCEED the one that
cxpires with the proclamation OF peace
would, OF course. seriously interfere
with the supply O, coal, and might,
during the fail, cause panc among
buyers and consumers. The trsnspor.
tatfon ag limiting factor in produc-
ton. II the demand increases SUM-