The Washington herald., 1922-07-23


The nation within a month will
be in the throes of the worst sum-
mer coal famine in the history OF
the country. unless the miners
strike is settled or a big increase
In production Is made possible. a
high Official of the government de-
clared last night.
A shortage next winter Is now
believed inescapable, even II full
production Is soon resumed.
Unless the movement Of coal can
be started soon to the Northwest
and New England. all that will pre-
vent suffering there will be a rigid
policy Of fuel rationing.
Oficial government estimates OF
the nations coal reserve as the
strike enters it's seventeenth week
place the amount at 10000. 900 tons.
as compared with 65.o0o.00o tons
when the miners walked out on
April 1.
Survey Reveals Crisis-
The critical condition of the ma
tion's fuel supply was revealed In
officiai figures made public last
night by the United States Geologi-
-cai Survey, which keeps a close tao
on coal production.
The railway shopmen's strike has
brought a rapid decline In produc-
ton and the coal mined during this
week may set a new low record.
Production is now down as low as
the maximum point Of the great
mine strike of 1913.
Car loadings of coal are lower
than at any time during the strike
the report shows, the daily average
now being about 10000 tons.
The Geological Survey says:
"Under the influence of the rail-
way shopmen's strike. coal produc-
ton is rapidly declining. The
weekly output Of coal is already
running 100000 tons below the
high point reached late in June
In fact the present week tJuly IL
22) may even set new low record
Blame Trame Congestion.
"The cause Of the decrease was
unmistakably traff1c congestion on
railroads serving the non-unior
fields. In southern West Virginia
and eastern Kentucky, from whicr
the bulk Of the country's supply
during the strike has come, almost
every field reported acute disabn'
ity."
The governments Immediate eff.
forts in the crisis will be directed
toward framing OF a program thai
will alleviate the fuel shortage and
provide for conservation and equal
distribution.
No new moves are contemplated
until the Harding plan of mining
coal under troop protection can DC
tried out for a week or ten days.
The Shipping Board is ready in
grave emergency to man huge
coal carrying feet Of more than 900
vessels which would bring to the
United States nearly 100000 tons
of coal a month. Already forty
American ships have been chartered
to bring coal here from Wales. and
arrangements are being made to OBJ
tain thirty-one British vessels
These seventy-one ships would be
able to bring In 100000 tons a
month, 1t is estimated.
Briton Threatens Strike.
rTdHh IhOukcs, ieducE Ol the
British miners. Is understood To
have served warning on the British
government. threatening strike
there II any extensive expectations
are attempted. according to word
received. by union officials here.
Some coal. however, Is already on
Its way to this country from Wales
The government is also planning tc
take steps to prevent profiteerine
in coal. although voluntary coop.
Grafton between the government
and the mine operators and coal
dealers would have to be relied
upon.
Secretary Of Commerce Hoover Is
going ahead with his plan to put
into effect a system of coal priority
orders to insure the prompt move
ment Of all coal that is mined.
The law on this point is some
what in doubt. and Mr.. Hoover ha,
asked for an opinion from the At
torney General. The law clearly
gives the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission power to ISSUE priority or
ders In car shortage, but is moi
clear as to other emergencies.
An attempt will be made by Mayor
John F. Durkan of Scranton, to
bring about another conference OF
anthracite operators and miners
through which a settlement of the
strike in the hard coal fields may
be reached.
Durham. after. a conference with
President Harding al the White
House yesterday, said he was con-