Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-24

figure of last week. The supply of
coal on hand according to the same
authority, has touched or gone below
the danger mark.
Many trains have been annulled be
cause of lack of locomotive fuel and
industries in the middle west have been
hit hard by the shortage.
As an illustration of conditions it is
reported that the purchasing agents NJ
more than so industrial and utility
rlants have taken up their healIlar-
ters at jacksonville, Ky, and are
bidding against each other for coal as
it comes from the pit mouth.
The twin states apparently accom-
plished material results In slowing
down industry during the week. oh
the railroads there are several lmpor-
tar, conters of congestion and others
are developing.
Many Strikers Return
Notwithstanding these spotty condi-
tions, however. the rail SITUATION, IN
the words of officials here, is De.
cidedly working up The movement OF
freight has improved. they claim: dur
ing the week and the growth OF con
gestion has been pretty well checked
Some of the roads are claiming as
much as so per cent of the strikers
are back at work. j,
Car shortage in the non-union coal
fields cut heavily into production dur
ing the week. On some Of the roads,
hnweyer. capacity Eof facilities already
have been reached. Again the stu
alton was spotty; but improvements
we're noted in some sections and con-
ditions were not so good in others.
Officials here are hoping tnat
President Harding's plan for resump-
ton of mining will be successful, but
they are not unduly optimistic. The
suggestion that the government take
over the properties and operate them
during the crisis-not all the properties
but sufficient mines in certain tlelds
70 meet national requirements-has
been engaging more attention during
the past As hours. 1t is felt that TINS
will be done as a last resort and not
until the presidents plan Will nave
been found ineffective. -,
Mine workers, it is pointed out. Will
hardly be in a position to Withstand
the presidents command to return to
work at their old wages in government
worked mines. Justified. it is argued
BY supporters of the suggestion. IN
staying away from privately run mines.
but who would find it difficult to find
justification in striking against the gov
eminent itself.
Decrease In All Lines
Virtually all lines of industry reflect
the situation in decreased production
and orders.
The president is studying the crisis
TO the exclusion of many subjects
which would otherwise occupy his at
t~ention. He is further along with de-
velopments. perhaps, in the coal stu
alton than with the railroads. The
latter has been left TO the government
agency designed to cope with it, for
the most part. 1t has been only within
the past 10 days that the president has
devoted much of his time to studying
the rail situation.
OF the two the coal strike is regarded
AS the most pressing. That strike Is
given precedent because it is aimed at
the heart Of in~dustry-its fuel supply
and because the whole producing sec
tons of the country, including the en-
tire anthracite field, have been locked
tight for 16 weeks. The rail strike,
while distressing, is not regarded as
being in the same class as the coal
strike. The railroads are running,
though their service has been crippled,
and immediate danger of a transporter
49,