The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-16
CAN HANDLE COAL
Railroads Able to Meet De-
mands of Essential Industries.
no Surplus Supplies, and spor-
adic Shortages Expected.

adic Shortages Expected.
-n"The railroads are going to be able
to handle all the coal necessary for
comfort and for essential industries,|
said Charles Dillon, assistant to the
Chairman western committee on pub
lie relations, association of railway
executives, Chicago, to the Kiwanis
club OF Lincoln Neb., at it's MONDAY
luncheon. "It will require extraerdi-
nary efficiency in operation, but that
is just what the arrangements are try
ing to give. Consider, please, that if
100000 cars were loaded with coal
every week and two tons were added
to every cars- the country would have
100000 tons of fuel extra, a week, or
over 10000 600 tons of coal a year
moved without extra equipment. This
fact is being emphasized at the mines,
and it should be remembered by the
local dealers also, and by everyone
concerned in loading bulky commodi-
ties"
Dillon described in detail the vari-
Gus ways in which merchants can help
their own business while helping the
railroads. This is no time to worry
over rates." said he.
The same belief, that sufficient coal
For essential industries and for COM
fort can be transported by the rail-
roads of the contry, is expressed in
an editorial in The Railway Age"
Calling attention to the large in
crease in coal mined and transported
since the coal strike was settled, the
Railway Age estimates that the rail-
ways during the remainder of the year
can transport an average of about
100000 tons Of bituminous coal a
week.
This" says-~the Railway Age,
would make the country's total BIZ
luminous production of the year about
100000 tons, which would be $780,
900. 900 tons larger than in 1921, altho
it would be 115,000,O00 tons less than
the average annual production in the
four years ended with 1920. The re-
Suit of providing 100000 tons a
week pnObabIy would be that turnout
fhe fall and winter the country would
Be without substantial surplus supplies
and that local and sporadic shortages
constantly would develop; but if the
available coal were well distributed,
and domestic consumers and essential
Industries were given priority, the
country could get thru until spring
Without any real suffering and with
cut serious interference with general
Business.
2 TT is most important that the re-
sponsibility for the situation should
De apportioned fairly by the public
Among those to whom it belongs. No
facts available will help the public
more to apportion this responsibility
August 10, the last week before the
termination of the coal strike had en-
Sbled work in the bituminous mines
u be generally resumed, the amount
q bituminous coal produced and
transported was 100000 tons. In
Che week ended September 2, the sec
Snd@ week after the coal strike was
ended the total amount of coal pro-
@uced by the mines and transported
" the railways was about 100000
fV,rr raf ant
Since the railways in such a short
6me have. in spite of the shopmen's
sfrike. proved able to make possible
production of such a largely increased
tonnage of coal, is there still danger
@f serious coal shortage. and, if so.
Danger still Exists.
There, is still danger and the rea-
son for it, is to be found in the de-
Nelopments which have occurred In
Connection with the coal strike and
the railway shop employees strike. The
coaf strike began on April 1, almost
tAsenty-three weeks ago. Before 1t
began the mines were producing and
tire railways were moving an average
Of 10,700,000 tons of coal a week. The
opal strike Immediately cut this pro-
duction down to less than 3,600,0 900
toms a week. and up to the time the
Railroad Strike began on july i,
the coal strike had prevented it from
being increased to more than $780,
600 tons a week. After the railroad
Strike began production declined to
1890. 600 tons a week and, as already
shown, up to the time the coal strike
Was ended, production was running at
the rate of only about $4,000 600 tons
week. In the twenty weeks that the
coal strike was in full effect the total
BiodTctiop of coal was only approx
Iflately 9e,00O,0O0 tons. whereas, if the
coal strike had not occurred it could
oSsily have amounted to $50, 900, 900 to
200, 100000 tons. Therefore. the coun-
THY today lacks approximately 49,
900, 900 tons of coal which it could
Have had If the coal strike had not
Occurred.
Short Production Is Cause.
ii'Tt is the deficiency of production
due to the coal strike which is almost
entirely, If not entirely, responsible
fylr the present and prospective short
age of coal.
.l"It is estimated that the coal mines
Of the country, if worked to their ca
pecity, could produce about 100000
TINS of bituminous coal a week. The
railways, If we may judge by past ex-
nerience. can not, when working to
their -caPscity, transport an average
az more than 1000, 900 tons a week
The railways have a large amount OF
Equipment in bad order, and there
viii be for some time to come condi-
tions which will make it impossible
for them to move coal to their nor
mai maximum capacity. It ie impos-
siDle to have such a strike as the shop
employees without having it interfere
with transportation efficiency"