The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-10
HOUSEHOLDS FACE SHORTAGE OF HARD
 COAL THIS WINTER
Cause For Shortage Attribu- ted to Five Months likeness of Anthracite Mines Dur
 ing Strike Tie-up
By HARDEN CoLFAx

Special Correspondent of The AEe-Herald
 lcepyright, 1ss2, by The Age-Herald)
 Washington, September 9.-The average American householder is go- ing into winter with less than a ton of anthracite coal in his cellar. He will be unable to buy anthracite at any price in quantities to meet his requirements for the reason that it is impossible to catch up with the pro- duction lost during the five months and more of idleness due to the strike, according to Dr. George Otis Smith, director of the United States geological survey.
 How much coal can the house. holder expect to get this winter T' Dr. Smith was asked.
 'As nearly as we can estimate, there will be about two-thirds sup ply of hard coal for household use.' Dr. Smith replied Tt will nor be evenly divided, of course; some householders wil be able to obtain nearly all they required; other win be less fortunate.
 T am advised that the anthracite mines will hardly be able to reach their maximum of operating capae- ity short of menth after worh is resumed. That means that it will be probably October ls before the hard coal mines are producing ., much coal as they are capable .oi producing.
 By taking his coal in smal, lots however. the average user of anthra. cite may reasonably expect to ob, tain, some time between the begin
 ming of winter and April l, aboul two-thirds of his requirements" USc of Coke Urged Upon the basis of information fl its possession, the United States geo logical survey estimates that by hare
 work the anthracite mines may bs able to produce about 100000 ton, of household coal prior to Novem ber 1. The actual output of ths
 mines will be about 80. per cen higher than that figure, but not al
 the coal will be suitable for house.
 hold use. About one-fourth. ordf. narily, is of sizes too small for suct
 use and is utilized for steam pur. poses.
 Between the present tinse anc April 1 the output of household coal 1 may total as much as 5o.00o, 900 tons The country uses from 70,Oo0,000 tt
 100000 tons.
 Dr. Smiths advise to the house, holders who can't get anthracite coa Is to burn coke when 1t may be ob- taIned.
 Coke is clean. smokeless, slow burning fuel,'' pr. Smith says. thus possessing the advantages of anthra. cite at lower cost. Whenever avail. able; this winter. it should be uset by the householders, who should seek advice as to how to burn it properly Eventually bituminous coal. nads surokeless and clean by treatmen which saves it's other products, must replace anthracite in the home"
 Crowd Freight Cars Householders burning bituminou, coal probably will be able to obtain their full requirements. although
 they cannot expect to stock up theil cellars between now and winter. They can put in enough to last them for & few weeks, or a month, however and obtain more later. as the bitu- minous mines are producing coal al
 the present time to the limit of the
 car supply furnished them by the railroads. Production of bituminous
 during the current week. 1t is esti-
 mated. will top 100000 tons oi which about one-third will go to the railroads for locomotive use. Resumption of bituminous mining brought the volume of freight trans- ported over the railroads up to the
 highest amount since last October, according to the American Railway association. The predicted total of so0,0oO carloads failed to materiaiise by only 10000 cars. The great in- crease In traffic, due to resumption of mining Is expected to swell rail-