The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-09-02
CURRENT COMMENT
New England's Coal Supply.

A persistent attempt has been made
before investigating bodies and else
where, to give the impression that New
England's need of coal has been great
| ly exaggerated and that for sucl
shortage as actually exists, the pub
lie utilities and the manufacturing in
dustries of New England are them
selves largely to blame, In line with
| this attempt is a statement included
| in an editorial on the situation print
ed in a recent issue of the Manufac-
turers' Record and reading as follows :
"The plain truth is that New Eng
land refused to buy coal when she
could get it, and then demanded that
the transportation machinery of the
nation be dislocated to remedy her
own blunder. To cap the climax, she
insisted on having more coal than she
can use"
At hearing conducted in this city
yesterday by Senator William NJ. Cal.
der of New York, chairman of the Sen.
ate committee on reconstruction and
production, mass of evidence was pre-
sented which showed, in a way to sat
isfy any fair-minded person, that the
public utilities and manufacturing in
dustries of New England did not re-
fuse to contract for their coal in the
usual manner, but that, after the con-
tracts had been made, they found it
impossible to get the contract coal in
amounts called for, and were forced to
go into the market and buy spot"
coal at exorbitant prices. Such was
the burden of the story told in letters
and kilograms from manufacturers in
all parts Of Massachusetts,. These mes
sages were placed in evidence and made
part of the record. 1t is also in evi-
dence that comprehensive investi-
cation of the situation as affecting gas
and electric plants showed that fully
90 per cent of the utilities included
within the inquiry had made contracts
for fuel in the usual manner, but that
they had received so little under their |
contracts that, Notwithstanding pur
chases in the open market, the reserve
supply at the close of June this year |
was substantially only about 25 per |
cent of the supply at the same time
last year
1t is idle to talk about improvidence
on the part of New England interests
in the face of this testimony. There
is at present a very serious shortage |
IF coal in this section of the country. |
There is still reason to fear an APP
oroach TO famine conditions next win.
,er unless remedial measures are con
.inued in force. There is still urgent
reed of action which will curtail the
Export of coal, now going abroad in
-olume four times that of the normal
ate of shipment.
There is equally urgent need of sc-
ion that will bring the cost of coal in
he open market back to reasonable
igure. According TO information in
he possession of the Senate committee,
our dollsrs a ton at the mine is
air, and even a generous price for
luminous coal. Spot" coal is being
ought by New England industries at
rices far above that price. Manu-
acturers are laboring under a mighty
urden thus imposed upon them
trough no fault of their own. Street
always, in the midst of a multitude
( other troubles, must find the money
18th which to pay ruinous prices for
pal, 10 take the place, as far as may I
e, of the coal for which they CON
-acted and which they have not re-
lived. Householders in New England II
owns and cities find increases in their
ills for gas and electricity because of i
ne price of spot" coal
The situation is one that abundantly I
srrants the efforts which Senator Cal
Pr declared would be made to ascer-
lin the truth concerning charges that h
nscrupulous operators are finding ex-
ises for not delivering contract coal Y
order to have coal to sell at several Il
mes the contract price. Let us have h
ie truth in this business. and let such
'tion be taken as will forever put an 7
ID to such a state of affairs az that I
hich now imperils the fuel supply II
large section Of the land and i'm r
'ses burders. in hte shape Of exces- 7
We prices, upon millions Of Ameri- Il
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