The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-07-23
GOVERNOR REVIEWS
COAL SITUATION

investigations | have made dis
close that we are threatened this fall
and winter with the worst fuel short
age this state has ever known, unless
prompt steps are taken to prevent.
Il am addressing this letter to you
and to other leading newspaper men
of the state and am also writing 70
the coal operators and coal miners 70
urge prompt and earnest cooperation
and through newspaper advertising
and publicity to prevent, if possible,
the suffering which such shortage
would entail.
Federal authorities contend there
is an acute coal shortage already in
the Northwest meaning the terri
tory tributary to the Great Lakes.
Some coal operators of the eastern
portion of the United States deny
this. Considerable press publicity
has been given this controversy. us
ing the phrase northwest but not
meaning to refer to Pacific North
west. In any event, we in this stat
must realize the situation that in or
der to meet this alleged shortage the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
which is now exclusively directiny
the distribution of railroad freight
cars, has restricted the use of Goa
cars to the movement of coal and
has issued instructions to the lines
serving the Pacific Northwest 10
turn over all available coal cars t.
their eastern connections. and has al
so advised the iron and steel districts
that coal cars must not be loaded for
Pacific Coast points or beyond the
reach of the coal mines. As a conse-
quence the Pacific Northwest is be-
ing drained of all coal cars. although
at the present time there is an ample
supply here to move all of the coal
that can be produced by our mines
at is quite apparent. however
that this will not continue if coal
cars which ordinarily reach this ter
ritory loaded with iron and steel ar
ticles, and other open top car commo-
dities, are prevented from moving
to US. At the present time the mines
west of the Cascade Mountains are
running not to exceed four and one
half days a week, or approximate y
20 per cent time 1t would be great
ly to the advantage of the coal OPP
orators and miners if this could be
increased to full time.
"The movement in this state to
change oil burning equipment to
coal burning is rapidly progressing
and it is estimated that in from three
to ten months very large percent
age of the present fuel oil burning
industries, lighting plants, etc, will
be converted into coal burners, and
this will greatly increase the demand
for coal. 1t is therefore, quite ap-
parent that while at present we have
100 per cent cars and IS per cent
coal production. that unless we take
advantage of the situation and store
coal for the winter months, a severe
shortage may be anticipated, because
it is quite a different matter to have
100 per cent production and rs per
cent cars.
with the shortage existing in the
East il will be impossible for us to
secure any consideration from the In
terstate Commerce Commission be-
cause the cars will be supplied to the
territory furnishing coal for what
might be considered the more essen
tial industries.
'ln other words, unless much of
the coal is promptly. mined and de-
livered, it will be impossible during
the cold weather to move it from mine
to consumer and it should also be
borne in mind that at this time
streets and highways are in excellent
condition for local deliveries which
could be made much more expeditions
ly and cheaply than over wet, muddy
and slushy streets.
"My idea is that the fuel producers
and dealers should institute an i'm
mediate campaign of aggressive
newspaper advertising coupled with
personal solicitation of consumers
and nrosnertiye consumers faa'
confdant that the newspapers will
gladly cooperate in their news and
editorial columns to encourage early
purchases by consumers. | am ad.