The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-26
COAL CONSUMP-
TION FALLS OFF
Strike Has Not Yet Affect
ed the Supply On Hand

Washington. April 23.-Lact OF
demand. rather than strike condi-
lions, continues 10 hold down bit
minous coal production according
to latest figures assembled BY the
Cnited States geological survey. On
Tuesday and Wednesday Of last
week. however, the output jumped
to above ll,G00 car loads per day
against 1917 cars on Monday. the
low point registered by the effect OF
Easter holidays. For the week
ended April Is the bitulninous out
put OF the country was placed at
3,675. 900 tons, and the survey re-
port observed that more coal could
be produced il the demand in
creased, since the full capacity OF
non-union fields has not Yet been
brought OUT
From the union standpoint. the
strike is running along In nor
NAL fashion," the United Mine
Workers declared in q statement
today. Efforts TO get non-union
miners to join their organized craft
fellows were asserted TO be pro-
crossing most satisfactorily, with
approximately $4,000 OF them now
out, and good reason for the pre-
diction that the coming week viii
add $4,000 more" The advance of.
the Mnion into unorganized fields
was declared to be most effective
in Westmoreland, Fayette, and
Greene counties, ennsylvania.
which are sources OF s,eel industry
coke.
Mention of the various legal pro-
ceedings resulting from the strike
was made in the unions discussion
OF the situation and reference to the
approaching treason trials in West
Virginia. where leaders Of the So
called miners army" which ad-
ranced TO close non-union coal op-
orators ''wh6se lawyers are lead
ing the cases, rather than state of
West Virginia" the mine workers
said, disclose the real purpose.
behind these indictments" was TO
break up the miners union and
drive it out of West Virginia. The
grear bulk Of non-union CONNER
cial soft coal, the survey report
shows is now from this state
Government agencies indicated
some activity last Week in connec-
ton with the price situation. Fol-.
loving the inquiry by Secretary Of
Labor Davis and Attorney General
Daugherty into local and, so far.
only slight advances OF coal prices.
several operators Of large non-
union coal properties came TO
Washington yesterday and were
closeted in various conferences
with high government officials. 81
lence was maintained by all par
ties TO the discussion but it is un-
derstood that leaders in the coal
industry have been told that any
development OF q runaway mar
ket" would alter overnight thy
hands OFF, policy maintained By
the administration since April ], at
ter all it's efforts to induce opera.
tors and miners TO confer in ad-
vance Of the walkout had proved
futile.
The geological surveys report to
day dealt largely with the existing
sof, coal surplus, which is held hs
industrial observers TO be the price
controlling element at present.
About 4,Q00.000 tons Z week is be-
ing taken from this surplus, which
amounted 10 63,000,0 900 tons whers
the strike began. the survey said.
Cars OF coal on the tracks, but with
out buyers on April Il, numbered
%. ,45, a decline from April when
the total was 31,3773. Car supply at
mines, formerly a cause Of lowered
production. the survey said, was
"wcll-nigh perfect adding that all
OF its figures on coal stocks and
productions came from sources un-
concerned with controversial views
of operators and miners.
Consumers are not buying
enough TO call out full production
OF those mines which are ready IL
work was the surveys analysis CT
the situation.