The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-25
Industries Can Continue Only Month With Present
 Coal Stock, Agents Say
Bloody Outlook in Coal Fields May Reduce Output of
 Industries to Half, as Present Stock Is Now With in12, 100000 Tons of Danger Line
By HARDEN cOLFAX Special Correspondent of The Age-Herald (Copyrisht, 1922, by The Age-Herald)

r Washington. June 24.-The coal
 strike. almost forgotten by the pub
 lie until the bloody outbreaks this
 week in Illinois and West Virginia
 brought it foreibly to mind, has re- suited. during the 12 weeks of it's life, in cutting down available stock riles to within 100000 tons of the
 danger line, according to reports to
 the geological survey and department or commerce. These agencies esti-
 mate that the industries of the coun-
 try can continue operation at their
 present rate for about four weeks
 more and will then have to curtail operations to basis of four or five days week. generally, because Of the approaching coal shortage now regarded as certain.
 The first pinch of the coal strike
 has been felt already by manufac- turers in New Jersey, according to reports to the employment service of the department of labor. In that state. according to reports, employ CTS already have been compelled to
 curtail their operations somewhat because of the fuel scarcity. Production Depleted FlSuTSS OI tHe BSOlORlcai survey show that since the beginning of the coal year, April 1, anthracite mines have produced only few thousand
 tons of coal. During that period they usually mine, on the average, about 20.000,000 tons or nearly one quarter of the years requirements. The anthracite mines have only forty weeks In which to mine the custo- mary fifty-two weeks supply. Going at top capacity. with full working forces and a full car supply, the
 geological survey figures show
 they cannot perform the task be- cause of physical inability.
 In the bituminous industry. nom union mines are working at rate never equalled before. They are pro- ducing between 5.000.0o0 and 6,000.- 900 tons week. Last Wednesday when total of 17.00o car loads was exceeded the greatest producing day ever attained in these fields. This weeks non-union production, 1t is estimated. will approximate 5,6o0,ooo tons--the highest on record. That tonnage compares with a weekly Iconsumption of between s.000,000 and 8,500,000 tons.
 The situation in the bittiminous in- dustry is remarkable. It presents a situation never paralleled before &C., cording to reports to the govern ment With the prospect of an al- most certain shortage, industrial coal consumers are delaying their purchases until the new freight rates go into effect July l. and for other reasons. There are 100000 tons of coal on hand now at Hampton Roads, ciogging transpor tation facilities. awaiting the day when the rates go down. Then it will begin to move to New England. In addition. there are 3o0,000 tons more on the way to Hamptons Roads.
 In Alabama there fs much non-union coal on hand that the bottom is reported to have drop ped out of the market. The In- terstntc Commerce Commission recent order permitting Aiabama coal to travel into the Chicago market at a competitive freight
 rate with West Virginia coal has brought thousands of tons of coal north, but the Birmingham
 market is still overloaded. The northwest is reported to have
 obtained about 100000 tons via the Lakes-about the normal movement thus far in the season
 and New England apparently
 fs holding off for the lower rates,
 markets there being compara- lively quiet.
 Roads Overburdened
 Transportation difficulties have