The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-08-19
COAL SHORTAGE
VIEWS CONFLICT
OPERATORS ASSOCIATION SAYS
NO ALARM NEED BE FELT n
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.
Rx LANES 2. HoRNAoAY.

BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
WaShington.-The are still con-
dicting views as To the seriousness OF
the bituminous coal supply problem
and the solution thereof, but concert
ed action taken by the interstate com
cree commission, the bituminous coal
operators and the railroads has tended
to develop assurance that the nation
will get through the coming winter
safely.
The National Coal association, which
is composed OF approximately 2IOo
| bltuminous coal operators, announces
that no alarm need be felt by the pub
| lie as TO a coal famine this winter II
the comprehensive plans which have
been worked out are executed TO the
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
fill the cars.
The plans referred to provide for
an increase of % per cent in open-top
car supply so as to insure the ship
ment from the bitumlnous mines OF
approximately 100000 tons Of coal
a week from now until the end of the
present coal year. which is April i,
1921. The program also calls for
priority I'm soft coal shipments TO the
Great Lake ports in the Northwest
and to tidewater ports for New Eng
land. These two sections of the eoun-
try would be most seriously affected
II an actual coal famine should de-
velop 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 80 was 25S,360.OOO tons.
II is pointed out that if the same ratio
Of output were maintained for the bal
ance of the year up to April ] next,
the aggregate production would reach
516.1 10000 to- s. The coal operators
estimate that 5z1Ooe,O0O tons will be
needed TO reach this. years require
ments. This demand would exceed
the output for last year by some 49,
100000 tons, while being under the
production for 1917 and 1918.
Some of the reasons given for the
increased demand upon the mines this
year are that there has been greater
need for coal on the part OF manufac-
turing interests; that the coal opera
tors have been obliged to make up a
deficiency of some 100000 tons OF
coal stocks which under ordinary con-
ditlons would have been lying In the
country's bins on April /; that be-
cause of the miners strike Of last
winter. which closed down the mines
for six weeks, the country's surplus
stocks entirely disappeared and up to
the present have never been made up
The coal operators estimate the ex-
listing aggregate shortage at 35,00OOOC
tons.
The lake movement of coal, by
: which is meant the movement of soft
coal from Lake Erie ports to the up
PER lake ports, Duluth for example. Is
over 100000 tons behind 1918 and g.
900, 600 tons behind 1919.
Making Assets OF cripples.
The work of reclaiming for useful
ness persons who are injured in indus
tr ywill soon begin with the fedora
government cooperating with the
states in an effort TO solve the prob
lem of the Industrial cripple.
Seven states-AIlnnesota, New York
oregon, South Dakota, Indiana, Ar
kansas and Arizona-have PRACTICAL!
completed the plan TO be followed II
each state, and these plans will BE-
submitted soon TO the federal boarC
for vocational education. Under 1
new law, approved by President VII
! son just before congress adjourned II
June, the federal government viii
match dollar for dollar the funds ap
propriated by any state for the re
. education for useful employment o
those who have been incapacitated b!
injury.
The work of industrial rehabilitation
will primarily be carried ON by th'
states, the federal government aidins
financially and through the fedora
board of vocational education super
ylsing and guiding the states. Within
few years. officers OF the fedora
board anticipated that the industrial
rehabilitation work will be nation
wide. -... -
-Four Years to Try Plan.
1t is not proposed that the fedora
government shall take the disabled
men and train them, but that eacl
state shall have the cooperation o.
the government I'm allotment of funds
there being $4,000 available for us,
before July l, 1921. and 100000 10
each OF the three succeeding wears
State allotments Of this money viii
be ON a pro rata basis of population
with minimum allowance set at IS,
COO.
| u.... So. ,...ar ,ariad a. axnaefad 4.