The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-07-29
COAL SHORTAGE POS
SlBLE SAYS HART
Says Bins Must Be Filled Now to
Insure Against Acute Short
age Next Winter.

the following letter to the newspapers
'of the state in which he urges that
widespread publicity be given to the
coal situation.
Investigations / have had made
disclose that we are threatened this
fall and winter with the worst fuel
shortage this state has ever known,
unless prompt steps are taken to
prevent.
Il am addressing this Letter to you
and to other leading newspaper men
OF the state and am also writing to
the coal operators and coal mirerx to
urge prompt and earnest cooperation
and through newspaper advertising
and publicity to prevent. if possible,
the suffering which such shortage
would entail.
Federal authorizes contnend that
there is an acutecoal shortage already
in the Northwest meaning the ter
ritory tributary to the Great Lakes.
Some coal operators of the eastern
portion of the United States denies
this. Considerable press publicity has
been given this controversy, using the
phrase northwest but not meaning
to refer to Pacific Northwest. In any
event, we in this state must realize
the situation that in order to meet this
alleged shortage the Interstate Com
merce CommissonI, which is now ex-
clusively directing the distribution of
railroad freight cars, has restricted
the use of coal cars to the movement
of coal, and has issued instructions
to the lines serving the Pacific North
west to turn over all available coal
cars to their eastern connections, and
has also advised the iron and steel dis
tricts that coal cars must not be load
ed for Pacific coast points or beyond
the reach of the coal mines. AS a con-
sequence the Pacific northwest is be-
ing drained of all coal cars,altho at
the present time there is an ample
supply here to move all Of the coal
that can be produced by our mines.
ut is quite apparent, however, that
this will not continue if coal cars
which ordinarily reach this territory
loaded with iron and steel articles. and
other open top car commodities, are
prevented from moving to us. At the
present time the mines west Of the
Cascade Mountains are running not
to exceed four and one-half days a
week, or approximately 20 per cent.
time. It would be greatly to the adj
vantage of the coal operators and
miners If this time could be increased
to full time.
"The movement in this state to
change oil burning equipment to coal
burning is rapidly progressing, and it
is estimated that in from three to ten
months very large percentage Of
the present fuel oil burning industries,
lighting plants, ETC., will be converted
into coal burners, and this will greatly
increase the demand for coal. It is
therefore, quite apparent that while at
present we have 100 per cent. cars and
Is per cent coal production, that un-
less we take advantage Of the situa-
ton and store our coal for the winter
months, a severe shortage may be an
ticipated, because it is quite a different
matter to have 100 per cent. produc-
ton and Is per cent. cars.
"With the shortage existing in the
East it will be impossible for US to Sc
cure any consideration from the In
terstate Commerce Commission be-
cause the cars will be supplied to the
territory furnishing coal for what
might be considered the more essen
ital industries.
"In other words, unless much OF the
coal is promptly mined and delivered,
| it will be impossible during the cold
weather to move it from mine to con-
sumer and it should also be borne in
mind that at this time the streets and
highways are in excellent condition
for local deliveries which could be
made much more expeditiously and
cheaply than over wet, muddy and
slushy streets.
"My ideas that the fuel producers
and dealers should institute an I'M
mediate campaign Of aggressive news
paper advertising coupled with per.
sonal solicitation Of consumers and
prospective consumers. l feel con-
fident that the newspapers will gladly
cooperate in their news and editorial
columns to encourage early purchase
Iby the consumers. / am advised that
the operators and miners will do all
in their power to have ample fuel
available for early distribution. am
urging the fuel dealers that in view
of the fact that consumers usually do
not buy fuel SO early in the season,
a method be devised to extend the time
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