The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-12-03
COAL PRODUCTION COUNTRY OVER DROPS;
UTAH MINES WORKING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL



Correspondence The Sun.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Nov. %
Production Of soft coal dropped back
below the 100000 ton line during
the week ended November 10th. The
total output, including Ignite and
coal coked AZ the mines, is estimated at
u,00,000 net tons, the lowest in any
fulltime week since that Of October
I'd, when a strike was in progress in
Northern Ohio. In fact. the week Of
the goth, without a holiday, fell 371,-
900 tons short of the preceding week,
which was affected by the celebration
of Armistice Day. In comparison with
the week Of October Both, the latest
fulltime week, the decrease was even
greater, amounting to $4,000 tons. In
spite Of tho decrease, however, pro-
duction was we'll in excess Of that in
the corresponding week of any Of the
last four years. The cause Of the de
preston Is not ~ yet entirely clear.
An analysis of the reports of rail
road loadings shows that the de-
chine conferred in tho Northern and
Middle Appalachians, particularly
in the Pocahontas rnilroud region.
In the West production was heavy.
The days Of the low production were
Tuesday and Wednesday, after which
loadings started 10 increase instead Of
gradually taporing off from the be-
ginning Of the week in the usual man
ncr. The week Of November 22d to
9th opened with the production very
heavy. Boadings on Monday were
a5,243 cars, the largest ON any Mon
day Of the year. The total FOR the
week, however, was reduced By the
Thanksgiving Day holiday, which
normally counts for only throe-tenths
of working day.
Production For Year.
Production of bitummous coal dur
ing the first two hundred and seventy.
ak working days Of the last four
years has been as follows, net tons: In
1917, 103,46i,000; 1918, 25,460, 900
1919, 4i4,Tl2,000; 1920, 4SS,3O4, 600
Tho 1920 output is thus about thirty.
seven million tons behind 1918, but
this does not mean q great deal be
cause during that year production OK
seeded consumption and provided for
net addition % consumers stocks Of
moro than 100000 tons Neither
does Il signify much that 1920 IL far
ahead OF 1919, for In 1919 there was a
net draft ON stocks of 40,0O0,000 tom
and the close OF the year, following
the coal strike of November aud De
cembor, found consumers stocks dan
gcrously low. IL is more significant
10 note that 1920 is now within FIVE
million tons of 1917, a year when re-
.quirements were large, and when pro-
duction about equaled consumption.
With an estimated production of L.
$4,000 net tons during the week end
ed November 10th, the output Of an
thraeite Is again back at normal Dur
ing the week ended October 30th, the
latest fulltime week, the output was
100000 net tons or 10000 tons less
than that of the present week. To
handle this tonnage 1892 ears were
loaded, an increase of 1928 cars when
compared with the preceding week. In
spite Of the recovery production was
less than during the corresponding
week a year ago, when 2,065,0O0 tons
were reported. In this connection,
however, il must be remembered that
at this time last year the bituminous
strike was in progress and not only
was there AN additional demand for
.aN lNaf OF ia
which 10 transport H. Cumulative pro-
duotion for the coal year stands az
65,s4S,0OO net tons. Compared with
1919, the present coal year Is now 3,
$4,000 tons behind. This means n
total Of over 100000 tons lost since
September LIST, principally because Of
the strike and holidays,
Record In November.
The record of the month Of Novem-
Der is largely The story Of success
sion of holidays In the first week Of
the month occurred one lega, holiday,
election day, and one religious holt
day. In the week of November 18th
occurred the patriotic celebration Of
Armistiee Day, not recognized as a
legal holiday and therefore introduce
ing a factor in the report difficult TO
interpret. In the case Of a legal holi-
day Il is the practice to deduct the
holiday time from the full working
time and recalculate the losses accord
ingly. This was done iE the week Of
November 9th. As the status of Arm
isiiee Day has not yet been fixed by
law or precedent, however, no dedue-
ton from the working time was made
on occount Of il, and the percentages
for the week Of November 18th are all
calculated on a fullt.me of forty-eight
hours. For this reason comparisons
with the preceding week mean little,
and comment will therefore be limited
10 conditions during the week Of
AImistioe Day. The week of Novem-
Der 18th was one of large production
-12,l41 900 tons--in spite of ARMS
tiee Day. The holiday reduced the
demand for cars, a fact which result
ed in relative improvement in the ear
supply. There was evidence of an