Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-08-05
RESPONSIBILITY FOR COAL SHORTAGE

II RESPONSIBILITY FOR COAL SHORTAGE
le6TNHERE is going to be coal shortage says tn
! Il Railway Age. There be possible ques
tion about that now. II will come how soor
the settled fact It is already here II
some parts OF the country. The only question is how
serious It will become.
wilmngtonians should take that tip and prepare
for it.
1t been the for certain spokesman OF the
coal operators when coal shortage existed or was
threatened try put all the responsibility for II
failure OF the railways all the coal offered
them They even did this after coal strike in
November and December. 1919. They starting TO
Already they magnfying the effects of
strike upon coal production with the OBJ
object OF the fastening the railway all the
responsibility they possibly for the coal shortage
that is coming.
The Railway Age does not blame the coal operators
the coal strike its effects But the efforts OF their
spokesman make appear that the threatened coal
shortage will be due TO transportation conditions rather
than TO mining conditions renders necessary pre-
the facts regarding developments to date
The strike in the coal mines began April 1. Up to
shat date there has been produced by the mines and
moved by the railways this year 100000 tons OF
bitumInous coal This was 2s.sOOOOO tons more than
in the period of 1921 In the four weeks before
the strike the OF bituminous coal
moved by the railways 1O.714.oo0 tons. II the
railways had been given opportunity move coal at
until their strike began July 1, there
would be any danger OF a coal shortage
But the coal strike In the thirteen weeks from
the time It began April until the railway strike be-
gan on July It reduced average weekly production
from 10714.OO0 tons to 4505.Oo0 tons. This
duction OF s20s00O tons week, which means that in
these thirteen strike prevented the rail-
ways moving sO717.OOO of bituminous coal
which they easily could have moved, and would have
moved. II the coal strike had not occurred.
began. What effect the railroad strike had?
In week before the railroad strike began the
production OF btuminous coal 522s,0oO TONS The
production in the next week has significance, be-
cause It included the Fourth of July holiday. In the
July 49, total production 4114OOO tons
II the entire decline in production between the
week July that ended July Is be attributed
10 transportation conditions 1t amounted to only
i.112O 900 tons. less than one-hfth much the
average weekly reduction caused by the strike in
he thirteen weeks before the railway strike bgan.
II the coal strike should end today the railways could
mme diately increase by 100 TO $50 per cent. the
u coal they transporting regardless OF the
hop employees strike That would not be sufficient TO
,nse the effects already produced by the strike
But Il would be sufficient 20 all the countrys
eay pressing needs for fuel except possibly in the
Northwest.
II there any industry in this country which would
justified denouncng the coal strike and its results
md everybody responsible It, the railroad in
lustry The railroads will have their traffic demoralized
BY It. and because they the largest OF
,oal will have their operating increased more
by It than any other industry
The railroads have troubles enough Of their own
having other peoples troubles shouldered upon
hem. Both they and the coal operators the OBJ
attack but the present time the coal
Industry far vulnerable TO attack than the rail-
Dad industry The solution OF the problem OF provd
ng the country with much coal possible is going
require close cooperation between the railroad and
he coal mining interests. and mutual determinations
III make It more difficult to bring this cooperation
bout. So far know criticism Of the coal
the coal strike prevented the produc
on and transportation Of 100000 Of in the
rst thirteen weeks it in effect has yet come from
ny railroad source although It would have been easy
have found grounds for such criticism The coal in
1sry will be we'll advised II It influences those who
,eak for II 10 be reserved in what they say about
ansportation conditions in future persons con-
.oted with the railways have been in what they have
i'd recently about conditions in the coal mining in
istry.