New-York tribune., 1922-07-31
L. S. to Assume
Duties of Coal
Dealer To-day
Machinery for Control and
Emergency Distribution
Complete, but Supply of
Product Seems Limited
Output Slightly Increased
Survey Shows, However,
This Does Not Apply to
Well Organized Districts

WASHINGTON, July 30 (By The A..
ISOLATED Press Tho government, with
the cooperation Of the states, will as
sumo tomorrow the duties OF a gigan-
tic mIddleman, passing on the coal
from the producing mines 70 the In
dustries and localities which, in the
eyes Of the government, need II most
The orgt nlzation OF the governments
emergency coal distribution agency
was pronounced tonight 10 be nearly
complete, and tomorrow Henry B.
Spencer, the Federal fuel distributor,
his committee and advisory sub-com.
mittees, as designated by order OF
President Harding, will begin active
funrtioning.
Just how much coal the government
can count on remains matter OF spec
ulation. The first test Of the response
10 President Harding's invitation 70
the mine owners 20 open their proper
ties was revealed to-day In the weekly
report issued by the Geological Sur
vey, which showed an estimated pro-
duction OF bituminous for the week
ended yesterday OF 100000 tons, as
compared with 9,70O,OOo tons the week
previous.
Car Supply Also Improving
"The increase Is due" tho report
said, partly 20 more men at work In
Pennsylvania, partly 10 improved car
supply In southern West Virginia and
partly 10 heavier shipments from Ala
bama and tho Far West. Production
Of anthracite remains practically zero"
Bituminous coal loadings on the first
day Of last week went up TO 1908
cars, figures assembled by the survey
showed. This was AIT cars above the
loadings for the preceding Monday
but 1904 cars below the last Monday
before the shopmen's strike. Loadings
on last Tuesday and Wednesday de-
clined, but a slight recovery was made
on Thursday. Reports for the last two
days OF the week have not been finally
compiled.
"There Is no indication Of increased
production In response 90 the invita-
tion 20 reopen mines In any Of the
strongly organized Districts" the Geo
lOEAiAl ANANfI AWlUIItHAfus hlUIO tOal
Is coming out Of the former non-union
fields Of Pennsylvania and little more
from the Fairmont and Kanawha dis
triets Of West Virginia, but the addi-
tional supply from these sources is
not yet significant in comparison with
the requirements Of the country"
The non-union fields prior to the
railroad strike, records Of the survey
show, were producing as much as
5,363,000 tons a week.
Output Far Below Normal
The total production for lhe last
week Of 100000 tons Of bituminous
and $1,000 tons Of anthracite is COM
pared by the survey with a normal
production az This season, including
anthracite, OF from 100000 20 49,
100000 tons. Normal consumption at
this time Of year would be 100000
tons Of coal a week.
One portion Of the surveys report
which commanded the attention par
ticularly OF members OF Congress from
the Northwest who have received re-
ports Of alarm in that section over
the coal situation, were the figures on
coal dumped into vessels at Lake Erie
ports, most,y for shipment to the
Northwestern states.
Up 20 July 23 a total Of 1889. .o47
tons Of coal had been dumped at Lake
Erie ports. as compared with i2,673.-
646 tons for the corresponding period
in 1921 and 6,O3s.736 tons In 1920.
The total dumped at Lake Erie ports
the week Of July g was 1882 tons,
as against l69,97s tons the preceding
week.
Covered by priority orders from the
Interstate Commerce Commission. all
coal now being produced is 10 be
bought under the fair price levels 20
be maintained by the Federal fuel dis
tributor, freight cars being withheld
from dealers who sell at advanced
prices