The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-04
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.

age next fall and winter. The an
nouncement is based, the Survey
states, upon nationwide study OF /
conditions in the bitumlnous field.
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upon |
a 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, ii is said, Is
by placing orders with the mines for
coal which viii be needed later on.
production during the first five months
Of the year. reads the statement, 'fell
1922, 600 net tons, or approximately
25&o below production during the first
five months of 1913. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate Of from 8,OO0,
600 to 8,500,0OO tons week. An aver
age output of 100000 tons week
must be maintained from June l 10
January 1 next If the country's esti-
mated needs of 5OO,00O,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
the mines, with depleted labor forces
and the probability of less adequate
transportation, will be unable to meet
the demands The result of such a sit
uation would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements Of domestic con-
sumers, public utilities and Industrial
users generally.
at is believed that requirements for
this year. reads a Survey statement
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, will
be about 53O,OO0,0OO tons of bituminous
coal, of which approximately 30,000,000
tons have been used from stocks accu-
mulated last year, leaving 5000O0O 900
tons to be produced. OF this 500,00O,-
600 tons 17S,000,000 tons were produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
322OO0,00O tons to be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks, or an average of
10,T00,000 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 II, 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. A suspension of mining oper.
ations while new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, of course, seri
ously interfere with the production o.
coal and if it should occur during tht
fall would cause panic among buyers
and consumers of coal"
There is no use in gambling upor
this or any other contingency, fuel ad
ministration officials say The firm ol
individual who wants to be sure of al
adequate coal supply next winter cal
be certain by buying coal now. There
is no other way such assurance
can be obtained. Transportation alS'
promises to be limiting factor if tn,
flood tide of demand comes at tim
when the country's record crops ar,
being carried. In some districts
would appear certain that, notwith
standing the utmost endeavors of tbs
Railroad Administration and the util
ization Of its experience last fall, ca
shortage win be cause limiting btu
minous coal production and for tina
reason it is problematical whether tn
expected production of 50O,000,00o ton
can be attained this year
Shortage of labor already is a fac
tor that is cutting down the output /
some coal producing sections, accord
ing to the Surveys report, The opera
tors report that from $4,000 to 1000
foreign-born miners expect TO return t
Europe as soon as they can get pas:
ports and that many have already II
turned. If continued this movemeu
will be capable of producing but ON
result--a reduction Of the amount Q
coal miued in districts where the min
labor is largely foreign-born, and ther
are many such districts
He who needs coal should hesitat
no longer. Now ia the time to bu
coal. ...--.----