Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-11-12
WORLDWIDE COAL
DEkRTH Menace
TO ALL INDUSTRY
Official of National Bank of Com
merce Says Only Two Nations
Have Adequate Supply.
SUBSTITUTES ARE
NOT AVAILABLE
Neither New Fields Nor Fuel Oil
viii Solve the Problem
at This Time.

tries at capacity during the coming
winter according to Joseph A. Broder-
lex, Vice President of the National
Bank Of Commerce In New York, and
even In these countries, he says, II has
been found necessary to take admin
istrative measures to protect domestic
needs. Mr.. Broderick points out that
the threatened coal shortage which
has aroused anxiety in New England,
Ohio and other sections of the country
Is merely one aspect Of a worldwide
condition. Neither shipments from
new and remote fields, such as those
in Australia, nor the increased use Of
fuel oil and other substitutes for coal
will solve the problem for the present.
"Only two countries of the world,
the United States and the United
Kingdom, today have reasonable as
surance of sufficient coal to operate
their industries at capacity during the
coming winter" Mr.. Broderick says.
"In order to attain this security
definite limit has been placed upon the
amount of British coal available for
export and in the United States ex-
ports have been automatically held in
check by measures taken to assure
domestic supplies. The fuel problem
is the foremost question facing the
industry of every country of western
Europe, except the United Kingdom.
countries outside Europe, chiefly those
countries of South America which
have heretofore been dependent on i'm
ported coal. In South America the
coal shortage has not as seriously af-
fected the national life as is the case
with the countries of Europe, chiefly
because manufacturing does not con-
stitute the major activity of any South
American country.
1.-THE international coal trade is en-
tirely dominated by the United King
dom, Germany and the United States.
In 1913, on the basis of net exports,
about 145,0O0,0O0 tons of coal, or lit
output, entered into International COM
merce, and of this amount 81 per cent
came from the three leading exporters
Not only is the coal supply of import
ing countries now dependent upon the
mines of these three countries, but
there is no prospect for years to come
of important additions from other
sources to the amount of coal availa-
Bile for the export market. The recent
emphasis placed upon small shipments
from new and remote coal fields has
been entirely out Of proportion to their
relation to the issue.
"a similar over-emphasis has also
been placed on the proposed use Of
substitutes. The widespread use Of
fuel oil in place of coal for the bunker
ing Of steamships was made In part
because of the high steam value OF
oil In relation to weight, and In part
to the quickness and convenience with
which supplies can be taken on, as
compared with the onerous process Of
filling coal bunkers. similar re-
placement of coal by oil has occurred
In some other Industries, especially for
railroad fuel, but the supply of oil is
not sufficient to overcome the fuel
shortage.
1.-The scarcity Of coal and its high
cost are everywhere stimulating plans
for the development Of water-power
Nevertheless, the production Of cleo
tricity from water-power necessitates
elaborate installations at time when
capital is costly and difficult to Sc
cure, and extensive water-power prob
ects require years for completion.
Wood and peat are but poor substi-
tutes for coal, and for many uses lig-
mite likewise is highly unsatisfactory.
Modern industry has been built on
coal, and it is dependent on adequate
supplies for its maintenance.
"World production of coal in 1919
is estimated by the United States Geo
logical Survey to have been 1,15O,-
100000 gross tons, only 100000 tons
above the output for 1910, and no.
100000 tons below the output for 1913,
the maximum year thus far. 1t Is not
to be concluded, however, because pro-
duction In 1919 was far below what
1t might reasonably have been, except
for the Intervention Of war, that the
world was last year short Of coal near
ly to the amount of 6OO,0O0,0O0 tons.
The total shortage Of coal In the inter-
national market Is only a small part
Of the difference between actual pro-
duction and probable output had the
war not occurred, but when measured
in terms of the effect on the countries
which are suffering this shortage It 10
acute, and the only hope Of meeting 1t
lies In the productive capacity OF the
United Kingdom, the United States
and GnNnauv