The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-25
STATES HAVE
COAL SUPPLIES
FOR SIXTY DAYS
Situation in Illinois and Iowa Out
lined-Prices Static-No
Summer Reductions.

Chicago, April 25.-(By Asso-
eiated Press. with the coal strike
in its fourth week, survey OF IL
states, including Pennsylvania,
Alabama, Kentucky, Texas and most
of the midwestern states, indicates
that coal supplies for at least 81
days are on hand generally, while
stocks in several places were ex-
pected to last from ninety days 10
four months.
Many of the larger factories and
public utilities reported the posses
sion of enough fuel to last well into
the summer, but in some states the
smaller towns and some independ-
ent factories were less amply pro-
vided, although relief sufficient for
emergencies was expected from
non-union mines still in operation.
Many Kentucky mines were said 10
be working day and night, and Ala
bama production was described as
near normal. Confidence rather
than anxiety, so far as the fuel sup
ply is concerned, was the rule in
all states from which reports were
received.
Little unusual demand was evil
dent, in some cases dealers de-
claring that there will be no mar
ket," or that they had more than
enough coal on hand. Prices gen
orally are static Operators and
dealers announced, however, that
there would be no summer reduc-
tions, with the striking exception
of the Alabama district, where it
was stated that summer prices
would be 80 per cent lower than
last year.
Reports of Illinois and Iowa con-
ditions follow:
Iilinois-Because consumers had
stocked up in advance, the strike at
the outset had such little effect that
although 1,400 cars of coal stood on
the tracks in central Illinois the
day before the walkout, coal would
not move. Springfield dealers still
have some on the track and are
selling at the regular prices. They
said the price would remain the
same as long as they may sell from
the cars, but if need of cars forced
them to unload and store it, and
then deliver it from storage, the
price would be increased 81 a ton. |
The present supply on the tracks
would be exhausted in a day, and
there would be no coal for central
Illinois," if factories were not
stocked well ahead, according to o. |
G. Scott, secretary of the Central !
Illinois Coal bureau, who is pre-
pairing the statistics the Illinois |
operators will use in their nego- |
tiations.
No Summer Price.
There will be no coal. no mar !
ket, and no summer prices" said |
Mr.. Scott.
The larger public utilities of the
state are well supplied, but small |
Independent companies are ex-i
pected to suffer if the strike lastsi
long. Two hundred towns sup
piled by one company had an aver
age supply of 80 days fuel the sec
ond week of the strike; 25 sup
piled by other companies had an |
average supply of two weeks fuel. |
Most central Illinois factories |
have three months supply, and !
some have four months, according |
to Secretary Scott All users of coal |
in that district were warned in ad-
vance and have stocked up, he
said.
Retailers and operators Of south
ern Illinois, including w. K. KAY
president of the Fifth and |
Ninth District Coal Operators asso- !
citation, said that prices would re-
main stationary for the present as |
there was a rs to 80 days supply |
and that summer prices |
hinged entirely on the. settlement |
1t was asserted that operators look |
upon the eight-hour day and five
day week as equivalent to a 25 per !
cent raise, and that it would mean !
an Increase in price, as would a |
raise in wages. A reduction in
wages would be passed on to the
consumers, dealers said.
1owa-The coal on hand will last /
public utilities until about July /, !
according to the estimate of Edward
Weir, secretary of the Iowa mine t
inspection department. |
nHNTD NT0AT RT0H-