Evening star., 1922-07-21
HOOVER TAKES Up
COAL Distributions
Priority Orders Likely in En-
fort to Prevent Famine in !
Lake Region.
IMPORTS PROMISE HELPf
Rail Strike Halts Shipments From
Non Union Fields-Price
Jumps in Kentucky. 4
IMPORTS PROMISE HELP

Various government agencies are
working out plans by which to secure
the distri button of the present coal
production to the railroads, Secretary
Hoover announced yesterday.
Mr.. Hoover said he discussed the
question of diversion of coal to criti-
cal points with members of the Inter
state Commerce Commission. yester-
day. and. while it was too early to
say WHAT could be developed in that
direction, he hoped they would be
able to come forward within a day or
two with some plan for maintaining
coal distribution to the railroads. He
said the discussions at present had
been confined to supplying the rail-
roads. but indicated that other con-
Germs engaSedin interstate commerce
might be considered as necessities
arose.
Shortage on Some Roads.
Coal stocks neid by the railroads.
he declared. varied from three
months supplies on some roads to
stocks sufficient only for week or
| TWO on others. These latter roads. he
said, would be supplied first.
Mr.. Hoover indicated that reliance
may be placed upon coal imports to
solve some of the difficulties in the
situation. New England, he declared.
is equipped to handle coal by water,
and if imports are received in that
section it would solve the rail trans
portation difficulty there.
The Lake Superior ports, Mr..
Hoover continued, presented one of
the main problems of coal distribu-
ton. as they need between S,0O0,0 900
and 100000 tons between now and
September Is. The normal great
| lakes need of coal. he explained. was
between 1T,000,000 and 25.000,000 tons,
| but. he added. in case of emergency
Lake Michigan points could be sup
/ piled by rail The Secretary indi-
Gated the probability of priority
| orders being issued to facilitate coal
| shipments to the lakes.
I Rail Strike Serious Factor.
The railroad strike. Mr. Hoover de-
! clared. has very materially affected
, shipments of coal from non-union
, fields. In the main, he continued,
non-union coal operators have been
| adhering TO the maximum fair prices
! recently fixed by voluntary agree
! ment. but in western Kentucky and
| some parts of Pennsylvania prices
have risen as high as 81 a ton at
| the mines. There was. he said. no
remedy for the situation short of
/ legislation
! Complaints. he declared. have been
/
public utilities against the prices
charged for coal in Kentucky. where,
he asserted. about $3.50 a ton would
cover the working expenditure
I The Kentucky companies COM
plants. he declared. should be placed
with their own legislation.
L don't see.' he said. why d resi-
dent of Kentucky should kick to the
federal government against the. price
OF coal bought in Kentucky
British Coal on Way.
Mr.. Hoover stressed the importance
OF coal imports in the present situa-
tion, and declared that a good deal
of coal was now being imported there
being about 100000 tons by shipping,
| mostly British, engaged in the trade
at present. Prices for imported coal
! at American ports. he said, vary from
about $3.50 ton to about S775 a ton
for the different grades of coal
The question of coal rationfng, Mr..
Hoover said. has not yet come up for
discussion. indicating that the situa-
tlon at present was not believed to be
such as to require such methods