New Mexico state record., 1920-01-09
Uncle Sam Set Up His Own Coal Pile Soon Strike Began and
Kept RepIenshng 1t From Mines Which Continued to Work
Nation Able to Last Out the Six Weeks Through
Efficiency Of Government Control

weeks of the strike from 22.0OO.OW
tons To 1l.375.O00 tons.
Pile Saved Country.
Al times during the strike some com
plants were made regarding the hold
ing of this coal in storage and on
wheels by the railroads. Without such
II storage, however. the country would
have suffered much more than it did.
and it would have been impossible TO
have looked after the emergency re-
quirements of the parts of the country
in greatest need. Throughout the
strike practically all of the coal moved
waS produced in West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, although some coal was
produced in Kentucky. Alabama and
Wyoming ana few other states. The
great central competitive fields, how
ever. closed down completely and out
side of the stocks on hand the people
in than territory had to depend entirely
on the coal from the East and upon
the coal in the hands of the railroads
to meet Just this emergency
At the beginning of the strike coal
was delivered freely to all of the ten
Glasses on the fuel administrators pri-
GRITTY list, but soon afterward ii was
necessary to restrict deliveries to the
first five classes, which included rail
roads, army and navy, together with
other departments of the government,
state and county departments and in
Siitutions, public utilities. and retail
dealers, and toward the end Of the
strike 1t was difficult in some parts of
the country to meet even these re-
qurementS, due TO the fact that princi-
became almost exhausted and ii was
necessary TO depend practically en-
tirely upon the coal produced in the
East. The amount which could be
shipped West was limited, not by ear
supply, but by transportation facilities
and the necessity for moving this
coal West was one of the reasons for
the curtailment of passenger service
in all parts of the country, which nat
urally led to some hardships and some
complaints.
With regard to these complaints. n
careful survey shows that. taken as
II whole. the country has stood re-
well the restrictions which
had to be placed.
The action of the government dur
ing the strike which caused the great
est comment was the placing of restric-
tiOns in connection with the dse of hi
coal and coke in supplying
light. heat and power to stores, office
manufacturing establish
ments. etc. These regulations were
iStlnton on the advice Of the Ger trail |
coal committee and under authority of |
The fuel administrator. They were put |
into effect primarily as IA coal con
Servation measure and because prior to /
their issuance local regulations. some |
times more stringent than these regu-
ations, had already been laid down |
in many sections of the country. Prior
10 the issuance of these regulations
he fuel administrator had issued n re-
power be- conserved as much as pos
Sible. Just as soon as the Indian
ipolis settlement was reached the at
orney general, following out Il prior
arrangement. Immediately notified the
'ailroad administration, and plans were
1t once begun to modify restrictions,
With the result that within two days
lfter the strike was formally ended,
were issued to regional d.
'cctors permitting them 10 remove 'he
as to the furnishing of
light, heat and power, and also permit
ing them To restore passenger trains
which had been taken or as a coal con-
ervation measure.
The receipt of the word from In
Annapolis was also the signal for
he releasing Of instructions already
prepared for the turning Of empty coal
ars towards mines which were eX-
,ected to begin operation in order to
transport the maXimuw production Of
u such mines at once.