Evening star., 1922-07-31
j. s. COAL SUPPLY
SYSTEM STARTED
Spencer Sets Wheels in Mo-
tion for Distribution to All
Sections of Country.
RAILROADS COME FIRST
Public Utilities Will Also Be As.
sured Adequate Supply-Pres-
ent Stocks Low. 49,.
RAILROADS COME FIRST

ent Stocks Low. ''-
/ The governments machinery for
emergency distribution of coal swung
into gear today as the central COM
mittee here, with Henry B. Spencer,
federal fuel distributor, as admins
trative head. began active function
ing under the program devised to
supply coal to the industries and
localities where 1t Is most needed, and
to maintain fair price levels at the
mines. The central control organiza-
ton was rapidly being perfected, it
was said, with the organization Of an
adequate staff to handle the rush of
reports and orders expected to flow
through Washington.
Accepting only the responsibility
of keeping the railroads and inter-
state public utilities supplied with
coal, and directing proper distribu-
tion as between states. at the same
time through car ALLEGATIONS holding
mine prices at fair level the fed
eral agency looked to the various
states to control distribution and
prices for consumers within their
borders. In many states creation Of
the necessary administration for this
central committee.
Requests for coal from governors
of states already have begun to come
in to the federal fuel distribution
committee, Secretary Hoover stated
today. The states, he said. asked par
ticularly for fuel for their public
Fuel Distributor Spencer was at
work today perfecting the organiza-
ton of regional committees in the
producing ming fields. and it was ex-
pected that orders could be forward
ed to all districts within forty eight
hours.
To Function Three Months
Maintenance of the federal emerg-
ency coal control organization, Mr..
Hoover asserted, probably will be
necessary for at least three months
after the coal strike is ended. 1t
will be necessary, he explained, to
provide for the needs of some sec
tions. such as New England. where
there are practically no stocks of
coal, and the northwest.
Whether an appropriation will be
necessary to defray the expenses of
the emergency organization has not
yet been determined. Mr.. Hoover said,
decided by the time the House re-
assemblies on August is.
No matter il the coal miners Of the
nation went to work tomorrow and
continued to work at capacity for the
rest of the year, the probability re-
mains that certain sections Of the
country would be hard put to get
enough coal for their needs, govern
ment officials declared today. The
available supply of coal above ground.
meanwhile. has dropped almost to the
vanishing point. and is now far be-
low the level of .20.000,000 tons, which
has heretofore been regarded as the
margin of safety.
Distribution of coal, in the opinion
of George Otis Smith. director Of the
geological survey, remains the great
problem of the industry after the
miners go back to work, and even if
mines were opened Immediately a
coal stringency would probably be
felt in some sections, even with the
priority service orders of the Inter
state Commerce Commission. "The
situation in anthracite is serious" Mr.
Smith said. "One quarter OF the coal
year is gone and, practically speaking,
no anthracite has been mined"
Headquarters of the federal coal
distribution committee were opened
today in the old war trade board
building at goth and C streets. where
Henry B. Spencer. head Of the fuel
distribution committee, and his assist
ants will begin today their task of
diverting the coal Of the nation to
practically decentralizing the previous
distribution system. The federal coal
distribution committee will clear all
coal priority orders through the CEN
trail ONCE in Washington. but beyond
the borders of the states distribution
~fra1 ~ 10 ~~iA
entirely within the hands of the state
distribution committee, working in
cooperation with the central COM
mittee.
Coal Output Increased.
While the weekly report on pro-
duction furnished today by the
geological survey for the week ended
Saturday showed an increase in pro-
duction OF 10000 tons, officials could
not estimate today approximately
how much coal the government can
count on.' Production for the week
mounted from 100000 tons for the
week previous to 100000 tens for
last week. ~ 80
The Increase was declared to be
due partly to more men at work in
suppIy IN West 20 car
partly to heavier shipments from Ala
bama and the far west. The survey
declared anthracite production ro.
mained practically zero.
Loadings Of bituminouS coal on the
first day Of last week reached 49,
053 cars. AIT cars above loadings for
tie preceding Monday, but 1864 cars
below the last Monday before the
strike Of shopmen.
bureau compares last weeks pro.
duction Of 100000 tons with a nor
NAL production at this season of from
8 9,500.000 to 12.000,000 tons.
Total coal production Of the United
States for q normal year is between
$50 100000 and 560.000.000 tons. When
the coal miners went out ON strike
there were roughly about 65,000,000
tons mined and above ground, con-
stituting the reserve coal supply OF
the nation. A large part OF these re-
serves were In the possession of rail-