Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-17

are to be provided with the neces-
sary fuel to keep her industries In
operation and keep her people warm
Mr.. McArdle said:
I'VE are working following up the
action Of the New England Coal
Committee, whose report has just
been duplicated to the several New
England Governors. Col. Greenlaw
and l were in Portland on Thursday
in conference with the directors of
the State Chamber Of Commerce and
Industrial League regarding the most
serious phase Of the coal situation.
obtain some figures as to the supply
of coal required, the actual tonnage
received to date and the amount the
various manufactures, public utili-
ties, coal dealers and institutions may
have on hand, the State c. of c. has
sent out to the manufacturing inter-
ests and others QUESTIONABLE ana
the Public Utilities Commission is
also obtaining a census by similar
quest, in order to learn the conditions
Of the utilities, wholesalers and IN
situations.
THE object of the quest is to have
the facts Of the entire coal situation,
DO as to meet any arguments or
contentious that may arise.
1T is proposed by the State Cham
Der of Commerce to petition the
President of the United States to ex-
ercise his rights under the Lever act
to bring about movement of coal to
Maine and the rest of New England
and this may mean the placing Of an
embargo on the export coal move
ment to foreign countries, with which
New England is now competing. as
the prices quoted by the coal inter-
ests indicate.
1T is realized that If the coal sup
ply for Maine and the other states Of
New England is not moved from
Hampton Roads and the other tide
water points by water during the
next few months. that the situation
viii be very acute, for the reason
that many of our waterways are
closed to navigation by the begin
ming of winter, leaving the rail move
ment as the only route via which coal
may be moved.
"Considering the car supply Of the
present time and the conditions I'M
der which many of our railroads are
operating, it cannot be forecasted
what the conditions may be for the
balance of the year and it is even
intimated that the car supply will be
but so or SO per cent. of the normal
requirements.
Nothing was brought out at the
Portland conference to brighten the
feelings of anyone there. but every
one realized the seriousness of the
situation. The State Chamber of
Commerce has already communicated
with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission requesting an embargo. An
other will be sent to the President
and I understand that a delegation
will go to Washington to make a
personal appeal for quick action on
that line"
Those present at Thursdays COM
bined session Of the two bodies in
cluded the following members of the
executive council Of the State c. of
C.; James @. Gulnac OF Bangor, presi-
dent; George H. Bass Of Wilton, vice
president; Frank Peabody Of Houlton,
secretary; Henry A. Free Of Lewiston,
treasurer: b. G. Mcintyre Of Norway,
Rex W. Dodge. Henry F. Merrill and
Roscoe ]. Eddy of Portland. Kenneth
c. NJ. Stills of Brunswick, Mrs Robert
Treat Whitehouse of Portland, of the
Home department. OF the State body,
and Col. Albert Greenlaw and F.. j.
McArdle Of the Public Utilities Com
mission and representing the New
England coal committee