The Carlisle independent., 1919-07-03
COAL SHORTAGE ON WAY; GOVT.
 SAYS BUY NOW
May Be Repetition of 1917-18 Conditions Next Winter Says
 Geological Survey.
MINES IDLE WITHOUT ORDERS.
Those Who Delay Ordering Longer May Not Get Their
 Fuel Later On.

The United States Geological Survey announces from Washington the prob ability of another general coal short age next fall and winter The an nouncement is based, the Survey states. upon a ma ation-wide 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 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- uiated 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 N,292 900 net tons, or approximately 25eo below production during the first five months of 1918. Mines are produc- ing coal now at the rate of from 5000 900 to 8,500000 tons week. An aver age output of 1O,7O0,OO0 tons week must be maintained from June 1 to January 1 next if the country's esti- mated needs of 5OO,OoO,0O0 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 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 a sit uation would be an insufficient supply for the requirements of domestic con- sumers, public utilities and industrial users generally
 Ut is believed that requirements for this year reads Survey statement to Fuel Administrator Garfield, twill be about 530 OOO, 900 tons of bituminous coal, Of which approximately 0,0OO, GOO tons have been used from stocks accu- mulated last year, leaving 5OO, 900 900 tons to be produced Of this 5OO, O,0OO,- 900 tons 178,O00,OOO tons were produc- ed during the first five months. leaving 322, 900, ,O00 tons to be produced in the remaining 30 weeks, or an average of 0,7O0,000 tons a week.
 'ThuS far this year production has been at the rate of 8.2OO,0O0 tons a week. In 1918 production was at the rate of 11,300,000 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 109o lower than 1t 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 a 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 courae, seri- ously interfere with the production of coal and if It should occur during the fall would cause a panic among buyers at,d ,f