The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-05-22
BIG COAL SHORTAGE
LOOMS NEXT WINTER
IF CONSUMER WOULD AVOID 1T
HE SHOULD ORDER NEXT
SEASONS FUEL NOW
BY Amedee J. Casey
From the Chicago Daily News Of
Anril Y 1910

rfoih tic CnicdSo Ddlly news OF
April z, 1919
To avoid a coal shortage next win
ter production during the coming
| summer must be increased consider
| ably. Analysis of coal production
records since Nov. 1, last, indicates
that coal will be far from plentiful
next winter, if production continues
to fall.
Production in 1918 was speeded up
for war purposes at the urgent re-
quest of the government, and at a
high labor cost. Then the armistice
was signed and the big government
demand for coal stopped, the mild
winter curtailed domestic coneu,np-
tion and the industrial uncertainty
added to the lack of demand. Con-
sequently the market was flooded
with high cost coal and mines were
forced either to shut down or operate
on short time basis.
The demand for coal has been
gradually falling off in various lines
all during the mild winter, with cor
responding decline in production rec
ords. The mines have had fewer or
ders than usual, as both large and
small consumers have met their
needs mostly from stocks laid in last
summer and fall. Production of
both anthracite and bituminous coal
stands at total of about so per cent.
of full time output, and most of this
shortage is caused by lack of orders.
1t is Up to the Consumer
Whether we are to have enough
coal next winter to keep warm is just
now entirely up to the consumer. If
he places his order now, takes deliv-
cry and stores the coal, there will be
| plenty of coal for everybody. If he
defers his buying until fall-if he de-
lays sixty days-there will be short
age next winter, especially of anthra-
cite, that will be worse than any
thing of the kind this country has ex-
perienced since 1902, when the mine
workers strike tied up everything.
1t may be said, also, that prices are
not going lower. Prices of anthra-
cite will advance 10c ton on May
May /. They will advance 10c ton
on the first day of each month there
after up to and including September.
During the period from Nov. 1,
1918, to March 15, 1919, the loss in
production has been more than 49,
100000 tons, compared with the
same period during the year before,
period in which severe weather and
considerable car shortage prevailed.
The output from the mines during
the eighteen weeks Nov. 1, 1918, to
March 8, 1919, (including both an
thracite and bituminous coaD was
100000 tons less than the pre-
ceding eighteen weeks.
Normally, there is considerable in
crease in the demand for coal from
year to year; that is, an increased
consumption and consequent in
crease in production.
Time to Buy Coal is Now
Unless the "buy early" campaign
recently started by the United States
| Fuel Administration is taken serious
| ly by the consumers of the country,
very little improvement in the opera
ton of the mines can be expected.
Consumers holding back their orders
are advised that the best time to buy
coal is when there is lack Of demand
for it, and that condition prevails
now. The best time to put in orders
with the dealers for next winters
supply of coal is now, when it is plen-
tiful and when the demand for it is
light. Furthermore, it takes twelve
months for theminers to produce, the
railroads to transport and the retail
coal men to deliver a years supply
Of coal. Therefore it is good busi-
ness policy to place an order early
for full requirements with respon-
sible dealer.
1t may be stated that there is no
danger in storing coal in cellars If
the following rules are observed: l
Store sized coal only, preferably the
larger sizes, from which all of the
fine material has been removed, and
avoid breakage as much as possible
when putting into the bin. 2 Store
the coal only in bins that have no out
side sources Of heat, as might be fur
nished by steam pipes, fiues from
laundry stoves or long exposure to
the sun. The coal should be kept
dry. Avoid especially alternate wet
ting and drying.