Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1919-06-27
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.

"sN h'Nt ihi' dhu WiHter. Inc an
nouncement is based, the Survey
states, upon nationwide study OF
conditions in the bitumnous field
Unless steps are taken at once, the
Survey says, to place the mines upon
y basis Of increased production there
Is every prospect OF n repetition to
some degree of the situation that pre-
vailed in the United States during the
winter of 1ol7-1s
The only way production can he stin-
ulated at the present time II 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 tlV statement "fell
57,292,O00 net tons, or approximately
$3.50 below production during the first
five months Of 1918. Mines are produc-
ing coal now at the rate of from 5000
600 to S,500,0OO tons a week An aver
age output OF 100000 tons Il week
must be maintained from June To
January next II the countrys esti-
mated needs of 5OOOOO,OOO 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 thar
the mines, with depleted labor forces
and the probability Of less adequate
the demands. The result OF such n sit
uation would be an insufficient supply
for the requirements of domestic con.
SINNERS, public utilities and Industrial
users generally.
1T is believed that requirements for
this year. reads Survey statement
to Fuel Administrators Garfield, will
be about 53O,OOOOOO tons of bitumnous
coal, of which approximately 30,OOO,OO0
tons have been used from stocks acCu.
mulated last year, leaving jOO,OOO,OOO
tons to he produced. OF this 100000.
600 tons l7S,O000O0 tons we're produc-
ed during the first five months, leaving
322, 100000 tons to be produced in the
remaining 30 weeks, or IN average of
1O,1O0, 900 tons a week.
Thus far this year production has
been at the rate OF 100000 tons n
week In 1913 production was at the
rate of IL, 100000 tons 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 il was last year This deficiency
may be made up in part or wholly "
the mines have orders sufficient to run
them FIVE or six days u 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-
atoms while a new wage agreement Is
being negotiated would, OF course, seri-
ously interfere with the production Of
coal and II It should occur during the
fall would cause panic among buyers
and consumers of coal"
There Is no use in gambling upon
this or any other contingency, fuel ad-
ministration officials say. The firm or
individual who wants 10 be sure OF an
adequate coal supply next winter can
be certain by buying coal now. There
is no other way such assurance
can be obtained Transportation also
promises to be a limiting factor II the
food tide OF demand comes at a time
when the country's record crops are
being carried In some districts II
would appear certain that, notwith'
standing the utmost endeavOrs of the
Railroad Administration and the util'
ization of its experience last fall, car
shortage will be cause limiting butt
minous coal production, and for that
reason II Is predetermined whether the
expected production Of 50O,OO0,OOO tons
can he attained this year.
Shortage of labor already Is q fac
tor that is cutting down the output II
some coal producing sections, accord
ing to the Surveys report. The opera
, tors report that from 10000 to 1000,
foreign-born miners expect to return Il
Europe as soon as they can get pass
ports and that many have already re-
) turned II continued this mOvemen
: will be capable of producing but on
result-a reduction Of the amount o
coal mined in districts where the min
labor is largely foreign-born, and Their
are many such districts.
He who needs coal should hesitat
. no longer. Now is the time 10 bu
coal.