Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-08-07
FAMINE TALES ARE.
BRANDED AS SNARE
Coal Mems Head Says Shortage
Cry a Trick.
LENGTHY ANALYSIS ISSUED
Declares Somebody Is Trying to "Put
Something Over" on the People
Says Production of Coal Is
Very Heavy.

Washington Aug. 2.-The constant
cry of coal famine is being raised
by those who are trying to put some
thing over on the American people"
according to George Ii. Gushing,
managing director OF the American
Wholesale association.
In a lengthy analysis OF the coal
situation, Mr.. Gushing said
The production of coal has been
so heavy that, if there had not been a
constant reiteration of the danger Of
the impending famine, there never
would have been thought of INSULT
cheney of coal supply"
There is a vast difference between
the consumption of coal and present
inflated demand for it, he pointed out.
but by measuring production against
any reasonable need of COAL he con-
tends, there would be shown to be no
coal shortage.
Cites Ford as Example.
The trouble. Mr. Gushing admits, is
drawing - line between the peoples
need and what they have been scared
into wanting" AS an illustration of
the frantic demand for coal created
by the persistent talk of q famine, he
points to the case of Henry Ford. who
now has in the field ten agents buy
ing coal for his Detroit automobile
factory.
zone Of these agents recently
bought 100 cars of coal from a mine
for 50 ton. Another agent of Mr..
Ford persuaded the same mine TO sell
him the same 100 cars for $3.50. A
third agent of Mr.. Ford still later per-
suaded the same mine to sell him the
same 100 cars of coal for $40 a ton.
at times four five and even six
Of these ten agents of Mr.. Ford have
been in INC same district bidding
against each other for the same lot Of
coal for the same user
Others Also Buying.
Other large consumers of coal are
following similar practices. Mr.. Cush-
ing asserted. and the result is that
the real demand for coal is multiplied
many times over before it reaches the
source of supply.
As showing why some public utili-
ties and other concerns are suffering
from a shortage Of coal now, Mr.
Gushing cited this instance of how
other consumers are buying heavily
and storing coal for the future;
zone group of consumers appealed
10 me for help. They expected to need
100000 tons Of coal after the middle
Of Sentember Before the middle of
July they were frantically in the mar
ket Offering any price which anyone
ssvould accept, and. to my knowledge.
frat deaand was multiplied eight
times before il reached the source Of
supply"
Everybody admits. according to the
coal association president. that there
are enough mines, enough miners and
enough coal to supply the home de-
mand and the demand for The rest Of
the world as we'll Any shortage which
may actually exist, lie said. there
fore Is not at the mines hut at the
destination
Plenty of Cars.
He denied the railroads have sup
piled the mines with less cars than
usual IN tn Srsf place" he eX-
planned the high prices have brought
many new mines into existence. The
railroads have had 70 supply these
with cars. The distribution Of a fixed
number of cars among a greater num-
her of mines naturally resulted in
reduced percentage Of cars at each
mine. Thus we got enough coal IN
the aggregate. although each mine
produced less
Mr.. Gushing reciteS statistics to
show that during the first quarter Of;
the current coal yeAr-April, May and
Iune-the quantity of coal produced
was OF per cent of the years esti- F!
mated required production. This Isl
only % per cent below % per cent in
the first quarter. which is "comforta-
bly, ahead of the records of all proceed t
ing years except 1919