New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-14
Coal l Operators
And Rail Heads
Confer To-day
l,smmittee Of Seven Repre-
scnting Biturninous Mine
owners Will Offer Plan
q Relieve Car Shortage
r.i Of National Crisis Seen
i Carriers Will Supply
Ample Shipping Means

s..~ Fne, Tsioane's Washington BM-eam
wAsHlNGroN, July 1S.-A commit
:. Il seven bituminous coal operators
81, .onfer with railroad executives in
~ York tomorrow in an effort to de-
g. vavs to relieve the coal shortage.
ria operators' committee was named
..d.v at conference of bituminous
sssrstors from all parts of the country,
HS,ch has been in session here the last
- days. This conference was called
!. he National Coal Association, in
x. belief that the country is confront
= nth an emergency which requires
immediate attention.
Shortage of Coal Cars
The operators said they would tell
,hs rsilroad executives that the failure
+ 1--WE the mines sufficient supply of
.,rs has caYned the coal shortage.
i1peratorsS declared at their confer
.,se to-day that if all the mixes in
H. country were running at capacity
.h,re would be no coal shortage, but
Nat the supply of cars in various fields
,aures from rs to so per cent from the
.unber required. Operators reported
Int contracts they hold are sufficient
e n supply the needs of the Northwes st
I md New England. where the situation
+ particularly acute, but that they are
assble to transport coal to those points
brcause of lack Of cars.
Il WIS reported that the operators
would propose to the railroad execu-
tyss that the Interstate Commerce
Commission be asked to issue new pri-
ority orders for coal shipments to New
England and to the Northwest.
l-resolutien was adopted calling for
observance Of Order No. of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, granting
nr;crity to the movement of coal cars
q the mines. Although this order was
issued on June 81, operators declared
i has not been observed. They also
asked priority in the movement of fuel
after it has been loaded, and elinina-
Y :6n Of reconsignments.
Colonel B. D. Wentz, president of
the National Coal Association, ar
ranged to-morrow's conference with
Daniel Willard. president Of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad.
Committee Ready to Act
Il told Mr.. Willard the committee of
operators has authority to act for the
bi.uminous operators of the United
States, and is prepared to take definite
aud drastic action in connection with
the railroads to relieve the fuel short
age, primarily in such parts of the
country where it is most serious, and
in general way for the country at
large" said Colonel Wentz.
THE operators committee conferred
with shippers of bituminous coal who
have contracts for coal for movement
to the docks at the head of the Great
Lakes and other lake territory, anc
coal for New England states. These
contracts cover the shipment of SUI.
feient coal to meet the requirements
Of the Northwest.
Interviews with operators who have
contracts for shipment of coal to the
Great Lakes and to New England hav,
IN every instance developed that tn,
operators are anxious to ship Che Goa
they have sold under contract, but be-
cause they have been unable to obtail
tsrs in which to make shipments thei
mines have been running on less thar
half time.
These interviews confirm figure
published by the United State Geologi
cal Survey, that unquestionably the ex-