The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-31
RATIONLNC OF
COAL SUPPLY
BEGINS TODAY
Plan Will Be Operated Co
Operatively Between Govern
ment and Respective States.
SPENCER AND HIS
COMMITTEE TO WORK
BituminOus Coal Production for
Week Shows Increase of 200,
900 Tons, Is Report.
(sy The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, July 30.-The govern
ment with the cooperation of the states
will assume tomorrow the duties of a gi-
gantic middleman passing on the coal
from the producing mines to the indus
tries and localities which, in the eyes of
the government, need it most.
Organization Complete.
The organization of the government S
coal distribution agency was pronounced
tonight to be nearly complete an dtomor-
row Henry B. Spencer the federal fuel
distributor, his committee and advisory
subcommittee as designated by order
of President Harding, will begin active
functtoning.
Just how much coal the government can
count on remains a matter Of speculation.
The first test of the response to Presi-
dent Hardings invitation to the mine
owners to open their properties was re-
vealed today in the weekly report issued
by tn geological survey which showed an
estimated production of bitumsnous for
the week ending yesterday of 1900, 900
tons as compared with 100000 tons the
week previous. ~ =. .
More Men Working.
1.-The increase is due the report said,
partly to more men at work in Penn
sylvania, partly to improved car supply
in southern West Virginia, and partly
to heavier shipments from Alabama and
the far west. Production of anthracite
remains practically zero.
Higher Some Days.
Bituminous loadings on the first day
of last week went up to 1903 cars, fig
ures assembled by the survey showed,
This was AIT cars above the 1oadings
for the preceding Monday, but 1864 cars
below the last Monday before the shop
mems strike. Loadings on last Tues
day and Wednesday declined, but slight
recovery was made Thursday. Reports
for the last two days of the week have
not been finally completed.
There is no indication of increased
production in response to the invitation to
reopen mnes In any of the strongly
organized districts" the geological sur
vey commented. More coal is coming
out of the former non-union fields of
Pennsylvania and a little more from the
F'airmont and Kanawha districts of West
Virginia, but the additional supply from
these sources is not yet significant in
comparison with the requirements of the
country"
over Million Short.
The nom union fields prior to the rail-
road strike, records of the survey show,
were producing 5,s6S,OO tons week.
The total production for the past week
of 3,900.0 900 tons of bituminous and q, 900
tons of anthracite is compared by the
survey with a normal production at this
season, including anthracite, of from g.
SOC, 900 to 100000 tons Normal con-
sumption at this time of year would be
100000 tons of coal a week.
Expect Many Orders.
Executive offices for the coal control
organization are to be located in one OF
the governments temporary war-timet
buildings and an adequate staff is being
modified to handle the rush of reports
and orders which are expected to flow
through Washington.
Covered by priority orders from the
interstate commerce commission all coal
now being produced is to be bought under
the fair price levels to be maintained by
the federal fuel distributor freight cars
being withheld from dealers who sell at |
advanced prices.
On Equal Footing.
Railroads and interstate public utilities |
to be the concerns of the federal govern |
ment as far as direct contact with the |
consumer goes while supervision OF the |
between states is designed |
to put all localities on an equal footing |
as regards bulk supply, after which con-
troll Of profiteering and allotments of fuel |
is to be a state matter.
Bunker coal is to be kept to minimum
and foreign ships required to fill their |
bunkers abroad for the round trip while !
exports will only be permitted of ship !
ments destined for consumers who can
not otherwise supply themselves.