The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-21
Z -THE KrcaMoNp NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EBRUARYe 1920

- ~ ~ ~ "A hg j I0-V.
which had been accumulated BY the
railroads as wartime necessity
No new equipment was purchased by
the division during the year. but il
has been busily engaged in seciug that
the material required for building the
cars and locomotives contracted for
last year was furnished ana the work
pushed to completion as rapidly as
the circumstances permitted
During the year cup to and in
Guiding December 3. 1919. ltn2 To-
comotives have been completed ana
1926 freight cars OF all types have
been received and put in service.
During the year 240, 900 tons Of new
rails. were contracted for at an APP
.proxinate cost of st.t25ooo and
IL 1000 tons were delivered on CON
tracts previously made"
Discussing the coal situation. the
report recommended the continuance
of government control of coal prices
and distribution, and said:
The reduced consumption of coal
due to the decreased demand for the
manufacture of war materials In the
early months of the year. led to a
partial -stagnation in the coal Industry
and falling market and contracts
which expired generally on March 3 +
were renewed a prices which aver
aged about 1875 por cent less than
were paid during 1919 The competi-
tive conditions which were restored
by the suspension of price regulation
ny the fuel administrator also result
ed in material shifting of the
sources of the railroad supply. which
was the subject Of some discussion.
but which gradually brought about n
more normal distribution Of tho
product.
CAR. DISTRIBUTION.
The policy of accumulating a
storage supply during the summer as
stimulation to the industry and an
insurance against an Increased win
ter demand was generally inaueurated
and carried out as well as conditions
permitted.
The equal car distribution rule
acted to prevent the storing Of some
coal that would otherwise have been
obtained. and some railroads found
dlfflcuitE In regulating their supply on
THIS account
More than ! 200 contracts fer coal
nave been negotiated during the year
covering approximately $4,000. 600
tons, SO per cent Of which expire on
March 81, 1920, and 40 per cent at
later oates and all of which the rail
sumo at the expiration of federal con
troll.
tn" general strike 81 tho minn
workers on Novembe ] resulted in
Ia" fuel administrator again taking
charge Of the situation and revokins
me suspension acting by his authority,
me railroad administration under nok
me distribution OF the available sur
ply and this work was placed in
fn4rrP of tho ItWppt0F Cf this AEl,igirr
1he report outlined the organiza ton
and work Of the central coal COM
mlttee IN handling the coal strike
situation and pointed out that special
measures Will probably he necessary
- restore the railroad coal reserves
depicted during the period OF shot
age que 10 me strike.
In order 10 prevent a further s}t,-
pletion of the railroad stocks" the
the railroads to obtain larger ship
j nents for current needs than woul
otherwise have been necessary
CONTINUED AUTHORITY.
III would seem desirable that the
central coal committee should eoa-
, flnue 10 exercise authoritative control
~ The distribution of all coal anal
! lhls condition has been corrected ana
/ the production has reached q p0in.
b
I 1T Is also important, II tha rail.
+ road fuel supply is to be adequately
] protected during the winter that the
establishment of a maximum price l,y
governmental authority and the rules
/ Of the fuel administration with re-
spect to priority of shipments ~ the
distribution Of the product should he
F.. continued for 1t least sixty DAYS and
/ longer II II should seem desirable al
Tho expiration nj that period. Al
present Indications point TO an OK
cessiVe demand both for export End
domestic consumption due 70 the de
pleuon of accumulated stocks oS vel
as To possible shortage Of the car sup
ply, ana unless the price Is controlled
ta7d the shippers arc oblige IN rec
ognize tho priority II the Railroad re
QuFeth ehts' u would appear mat th'
h., ,,n+ ~, LII H. .-a,,,o.+ 80 -
r,,},,, ard a. ~ ovr,rsa -.
,-ereio,7 - con,,,,.,rri,, .h,,a,a.4 ~.
r,anv cases. 50
~, -. s, -..-. ,