New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-08-20
COAL SHORTAGE
VIEWS CONFLICT
OPERATORS ASSOCIATION SAYS
NO ALARM NEED BE FELT IF
PLANS ARE CARRIED OUT.
MUST INCREASE CAR SUPPLY
Full Cooperation Of the Miners Is
Necessary, for Figures OF the Geo.
logical Survey Show Existence OF a
Real Shortage.
By LANES p.

BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
Observation-Disclosures are still con-
ficting views as to the seriousness OF
the bituminous coal supply problem
| and the solution thereof, but concert
ed action taken by the interstate com
merce commission, the bituminous Goa
operators and the railroads has tended
10 develop assurance that the nation
will get through the coming winter
safely.
The National Coal association, which
is composed OF approximately .io'
bituminous coal operators,
that no alarm need be felt by the pub
lie as to a coal famine this winter II
the comprehensive plans which nave
been worked out are executed 10 Tie
fullest extent. Cooperation must come
not alone from the railroads, the as
sociation says. but also from the
miners, who must dig coal needed to
FIJI the cars.
The plans referred to provide for
an increase of 20 per cent In open'fop
a nupPis Fo az w '''
ment from the bituminous mines or
approximately l2,OOO.OOO tons Of coal
a week from now until the end or the
present coal year, which Is April ],
1921. The program also calls Tor
priority in soft coal shipments TO the
Great Lake ports in the Northwest
and to tidewater ports for New Eng
land. These two sections OF the coun-
try would be most seriously affected
II an actual coal famine should de-
yelop and therefore they are being
given first consideration.
Geological Surveys Figures.
The bituminous coal operators con-
tend that a real coal shortage exists.
and use figures published by the Unit
ed States geological survey TO back up
their contention. According to the sur
vey's figures. the output from all the
soft cOal mines for the six months
ending June 30 was 25S,36O.OOO tons.
1t is pointed out that If the same ratio
of output were maintained for the bal
ance OF the year up to April J next.
the aggregate production would reach
SIG, 7o0,OOO tccs. The coal operators
estimate that 5z5,O0O,O00 on will he
needed to reach this years require
ments. This demand would exceed
the output for last year by some 49,
OG,0OO tons. while being uhder h
production for 1917 aud 1918.
&c.. "a A. nun .t,.n, far tho
increased demand upon the mines this
year are that there has been greater
need for coal on the part of mnnufac-
turing interests; that the coal opera
tors have been obliged Ia make m n
of some l5,OO0,0OO ons of
coal stocks which under ordinary con
would have been lying In the
country's bins m April ]: that be-
cause Of the miners strike Of last
which closed down the mines
for six weeks. The %country's surplus
entirely disappeared and up Ia
the present have never been made up.
The coal operators estimate the ex-
aggregate shortage at 3 5,OOO.O0
The lake movement OF coal. ny
Is meant the movement Of soft
{ oal from Lake Erie ports TO the up
per lake ports. Duluth for example. is
yer 5.OO0,O0 tons behind 1918 and c.
100000 tons behind 1919.
Making Assets Of crippIes.
The york OF rcclaiming for useful |
ness persons who are injured In indus
tr ywill loon begin with the federal
government cooperating with the
In an effort 10 solve the prob
lem Of the Industrial cripple.
Seven states-Minnesota, New York
Oregon. South Dakota. Indiana, Ar
and Arizona-have practically
completed the plan to be followed in
each state, and these plans viii be
soon TO sthe federal board
vocational education. Under a
law. approved by President vii.
on just before congress adjourned In
Iune. the federal government will
match dollar for dollar the funds an.
)ropriated by any state for the re-
education for useful employment OF
hose who have been incapacitaied by
The work of industrial rehabilitation
will primarily he carried on by the
the federal government aiding
financially and through the federal
Of vocational education super
Using and guiding the states. Within
few years. officers of the federal
anticipated that the Industrial
rehabilitation work will be nntion-
vide.
-Four Years to Try Plan.
II is not proposed that the federal
government shall take the disabled
1en and train them. but that each
tate shall have the cooperation of
he government in allotment Of funds.
here being s7Jo.O0 available for use
efore July I. 1921. and 100000 for
ach of the three succeeding wears
allotments Of this money will
on a pro rata basis of population
nth a minimum allowance set at S.
90. 4,
The four-year period is expected to