The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-15
SURVEY SHOWS !
WINTER SUPPLY,
OF COAL READY.
Plenty Available in All
Parts of America to
Tide Over.
DEALERS CONTROL
NORMAL AMOUNT
Prices About Same as
Last Year, Figures
Now Reveal.

NEW YORK, Oct. 14.-There will
be coal. enough for all this winter
despite a long continued slump in
mine production. information gath
cred from eveSy section of the
country showed today.
If the railroad strike, threatened
for October 80. materializes there
may be a shortage in some locali-
ties. but dealers in most cities re-
port a reserve SUFFICIENT to carry
them through the winter.
Kansas and neighboring States
report the lowest coal stocks. dye
to the strike called by Alexander
Howat. president of the Kansas
miners, in definance sof the orders
of the United Mine Workers. A re-
serve can quickly be built up. how
ever, If this strike is settlea, deal
ers say.
Price Same n Last Year.
Other facts disclosed by the sur
vey are:
That despite the fall in the prices
of many commodities. coal remains
about the same price as last year.
That partly because of this and
partly because consumers are
awaiting a fall in freight rates.
most householders delayed laying
in winter stocks until the recent
cold snap. caused a rush in buying
On the basis of present conditions,
government officials do not expect
any winter shortage. The total
production of soft coal for 1921 is
estimated at 391, 1,7S0,000 tons, as
compared with 556,420.000 tons last
year. Part of this failing OF is ex-
planned by slack business conditions
and part by the falling on in the
export trade.
Many Miners Idle- -4------.~.s-
Goeernment figures also show
that many miners are Cut OF WORK
and railroad coal carrying equip
ment is idle 1t is believed. there
fore, that production could be
speeded up quickly.
Most sections of the country re-
ported slack buying until a few
days ago. a good supply in the
hands of dealers and only slightly
lower prices.
In New England prices range
from s14 to SIG a ton, and consul
mers have refrained from buying.
There should be no shortage un-
less the winter is severe and trans
pOrtation is halted by storms" said
Harry w. Walker, delegate to the
Washington coal conference during
the war.
Report Normal Stocks. '
In the East, cities such as New
York, Philadelphia, Wilmington.
Del; Albany, N. Y, and others
report stocks at normal or above
with slack buying. and prices about
the same as last year.
Pennsylvania cities In the heart of
the coal district report lowest prices
with no fear of shortage under
any circumstances. Pittsburgh is
practically the only city reporting
domestic consumers stocked for the
winter.
Cleveland reports only a thirty=
day reserve on hand, but with ship
ments speeding up. 2 Columbus,
Ohio, reports a large reserve.
small reserves and little advance
buying, but with no fear of a
shortage.
Prices Lower I'm Chicago.
In Chicago coal prices are 81 a
ton less than last year, but only
80 to 45-day supply is on hand.
However, Chicago is close to the
Illinois mine fields. Springfield, ILL.,,
coal is SO cents higher than last
year, with consumers filling bins.
In Michigan, Detroit and Lansing
report good reserves in hands of
dealers with little buying so far for
domestic use.
Southern cities in many cases re-
port stocks lower than ordinary, due
to the belief by dealers and con-
sumers that a fall in freight rates
was due.
From Texas, Houston reported a
price drop of about $6 with good
stocks, while Dallas prices are the
same as last year with ample stocks.