Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-07-23
BUY COAL NOW, SAYS GOV
ERNOR HART

STHOI IOulS r mart
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.
l 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 miners
to urge prompt and earnest cooper
alton and through newspaper adver-
Using and publicity to prevent, il
possible, the suffering which such
shortage would entail.
Federal authorities contend there
is an acute coal shortage already in
the Northwest meaning the terri
tory tributary to the Great Lakes.
Some coal operators of the eastern
portion of the United states deny
this. Considerable press publicity
has been given this controversy. us
ing the phrase northwest" but not
meaning to refer to Pacific North
west. In any event, we in this state
must realize the situation that in or
der to meet this alleged shortage the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
which is now exclusively 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 Northwest 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
loaded for Pacific Coast points or
beyond the reach of the coal mines.
AS consequence the Pacific North
west is being drained of all coal cars,
although at the present time there
is an ample supply here to move all
the coal that can be produced by our
mines.
1t 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 run.
ming not to exceed four and one
half days week. or approximately
10 per cent time. 1t would be great
~ to the advantage of the coal oper-
ators and miners II 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 1t Is estimated that in from
three to six months very large per-
centage of the present fuel oil burn
ing Industries, lighting plants, etc.
Will be converted into coal burners.
and this will greatly increase the de,
mand for coal. 1t is, therefore, quite
apparent that while at present we
have 100 per cent cars and rs per
cent coal production. that unless we
take advantage of the situation and
store coal for the winter months. a
severe shortage may be anticipated,
because 1t is quite different mat
ter to have 100 per cent production
and rs per cent cars.
With the shortage existing in tho
east it will be impossible for us to
secure any consideration from the
Interstate Commerce Commission be-
cause the cars will be supplied to
the territory furnishing coal for
what might be considered the more
essential industries.
In other words, unless much of
the coal is promptly mined and de-
livered, it will be impossible during
the cold weather to move il from
mine to consumer and it should also
be borne in mind that at this time
streets and highways are in excellent
condition for local deliveries which
could be made much more expedi-
tiously and cheaply than over wet.
muddy and slushy streets.
My idea is that the fuel producers
and dealers should institute an i'm
mediate campaign of aggressive
newspaper advertising coupled with
personal solicitation of consumers
and prospective customers. | fee
confident that the newspapers will
gladly cooperate in their news and
editorial columns to encourage early
purchases by consumers. am adj
Vised that the operators and miners
VIII do all in their power to have
ample fuel available for early dis