The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-18
Thousands Of Cars Of Coal Stand on Tracks in State
 For Lack Of Motiue PoUer
Estimates Place Number of Coal Laden Cars at Four to Five Thousand With No Lo-
 comotives to Move Them


 There are several thousand cars loaded with coal in the Birmingham and Walker county districts that are not being moved because there is lack of motive power with which to move them. The estimate of the accumulation runs as high as 5000 cars.
 Tn some other states that situation has been relieved by suspension of mine operations for a day or two at a time until the loaded cars can be moved out of the way Some such suggestion has been tentatively made here, but not acted on so far.
 ''The prime trouble right nov.' said Lieut.. P. P. Powell, representa- tive of Federal Fuel Distributor IL B. Spencer, 'is locomotives. I am led to believe that there are 4,000 10 5fQ0e cars loaded and unable to move for lack of motive power.'
 Fair to Alabama
 Government representatives have stated over and over again that it is not the intention of the federal fuel distributor to divert coal from Ala bama that is needed here. Institu- ticns entitled to priorities in Ala bama will get coal according to their rights in the order named.
 The Hoover price scale is a volun- tcer matter and prices in each state are primarily the concern of the state officials, according to the fed : eral officials.
 e ho l. of coal is moving out under con tract prices. For instance, a large pipe plant is getting several hundred tons of coal per diem at s165. The state of Alabama is itself at this time paying $1.S5 for coal for the Bryce hospital, for the Speigner cct- ton mill and for the Kilby prison. These contracts were entered into prior to the rail strike. Price pa,d by the Southern and other railroads $ cn coal contracted for by them in June and around that time run around s1.S0.
 As, stated in The Age Herald yes terday, the western roads coming Eere for extraordinary supplies paid at first S2 to $2.50 and later have been paying $S50. Some paid more than that
 H HIS Dcm8n0
 Even with settlement of the mine strike in the middle west'' said Lien tenant Powell. there will remain for some time demand for the max mum production of which Alaba is. capable. Instead of 50.oo0 tons a day. the normal Alabama produc- tion, the extra demand coupled with the normal, could absorb 100, ,00O tons day. Then there is the south inst beginning to look for it's winter sun ply and there is need of a large tonnage of bunker coal at southern ports following the cessation of shin ments from the Illinois and other fields.
 With work at full tilt in the com petitive mining field 1t will be some time before the supply can catch up with the demand"
 It Is believed that withdrawal of the Missouri Pacific and others from the Alabama field following mine re- sumption in the west, will have a steadying influence. How the fair eather mines are to be controlls sd as to prices remains to be seen.
 Domestic Coal Lower
 Domestic coals have not advanced but, on the contrary, are selling un- der the price charged at this time last year. For instance the retail de- livered price on Empire nat today is $6 55 compared with SIPS at this time last year. Empire egg and lump is $I15, compared with s9 to s9.15 at this time last year and fancy Empire lump is s7.40, compared with $40 .at this time last year.
 Empire coal costs the retail dealer s3.25 to $3.s0 at the mine and he pays 79 cents freight. This Is something over s1 less than last year. The consumer gets that benefit and some more. Empire yards say they have little coal on hand, but are guar anteeing prices.