Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-16
CITY FACES COAL
FAMINE UNLESS
|. c. c. G|VES.A|D
District Already Forty-FNe
Trainloads Behind in Ship
mentS From Mines.

Washington faces a critical short
age of anthracite coal next winter
provided the Interstate Commerce
Commission fails to relieve what is
considered a very serious situation.
Scheduled shipments of coal to this
city now are behind by 81. 900 tons.
which represents approximately forty
nVe complete trainloads from the
mines.
These figures were announced today
by f. V. King. chairman of the Wash
ington terminal committee They
were supplied to him by the Wash
ington Coal Merchants Board of
Trade, in an effort. il is stated. to sr-
cure relief by order from the In
terstate Commerce Commission
Admit Cause for Worry.
The situation here is considered So
serious that there was evidenced an
unwillingness to divulgc the figures
for fear of "A resulting state of alarm
by the buying public. While hoping
to avoid anything which might re
semble panic. the dealers here admit
that, with cold weather not more than
two months away. the situation is
cause for uneaSineSS.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion's order. virtually placing AN EN-
barge on export coal until needs OF
the northwest and New England
states nave Deen met mas tenueu
toward alternating famine conditions
in those sections, but, contrary TO be-
lief, has done nothing toward aiding
other cities of the country to secure
fuel.
sixty Miles Of Loaded Cars.
On the other hand. congestion on
certain railways of loaded coal cars
has become apparent. On the West
ern Maryland line, between Brunswick
and Curtis Bay. sixty solid miles of
cars. loaded with coal are said to be
damned. The congestion is said to be
due to the failure of shipowners to
load the coal and to the laxity on the
part of certain officials to issue per-
mits for their loading.
While this condition does not af-
feet Washington directly. 1T has the
result of keeping necessary coal car
equipment from the mines, thus re-
tarding the shipment of more coal
to places needed. If the order of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
embargoing export coal is lifted il is
believed some cars will be thus re-
leased. as the ships may then be
loaded.
Despite the fact that the Shipping
Board has withdrawn it's vessels from
the coal trade, enough privately
owned and foreign bottoms are avail
able a certain points to clear up this
congestion. A jump of several dol
about largely through wild, compet
tive bidding. is believed to have
something to do with the general
situation, though foreign coal is
needed SO bad. il is stated. that
agents are willing to make pur-
chases at any price.
Need Here Is for Cars.
The need here is to secure cars, as
lis the need everywhere. Mr.. King
states that reports from all over the
country. coming from the various
terminal committees, shows a crying
need of equipment and general
complaint that merchants are not
doing their share toward releasing
cars.
Four hundred and twenty-seven
Ears. consigned to Washington mer-
chants. for instance, are standing.
with their loads, in the various local
yards. threatening congestion and
holding needed rolling stock. Sixty
one of these cars have been standing
for more than three days, and, II is
stated. the consigners here could un-
load them, if they would
Some of the merchants. il is stated.
take advantage of the law which AL
lows them to pay demurrage on cars
held over the time limit, instead OF
cooperating with the carriers to send
the empties back to points most IN
need of them.
Mr. King appeared before the local
Board of Trade today to place the
situation before the mem bers. asking
for more cooperation by the mer-
chants.