Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-10
TARDY RESORT TO HEROIC
MEASURES TO CONSERVE COAL
The Fuel Shortage Could Have Been
Prevented by Vigorous Measures to
Force Strike Settlement
In the Sprino

| In the Spring
| GOVERNOR SPROUTS Fuel Commits
| ~ sion will cooperate with the Federal
Commission appointed by the President in
an effort to bring about an equitable dis
tribution of coal for the next few months.
As the Governor has pointed out there
! would be shortage of coal this winter
| even though the mines should resume opera
tion at once. Just how great that shortage
will be no one can tell. Unusual economies
Will have to be practiced by householders
and by industrial users of coal In this
way the consumption will be less than IL
there were normal supply in sight.
As to anthracite, Mayor Bearster, of
| PottSville, who is cooperating with the
other Mayors in the hard coal region esti.
mates that If the operation of the mines
should be resumed on September 1t would
be possible to get $4,000, 900 tons above
ground before Christmas. The normal an
nual production of anthracite is from S0,-
100000 to 90,000.00O tons. The mines
have been idle since April l. 1t is physically
impossible to produce as much in seven
months of active operation as is usually
produced in twelve months.
The problem before the Governors COM
mission is to find a way to prevent con-
sumcrs from buying beyond their needs and
boarding the surplus, and to prevent dealers
from protitcerng.
During the war much hardship was caused
by the failure to control the distribution of
coal-hardship arising from shortage of
the supply and from exorbitant prices
charged
The war has been over for nearly four
years, yet we are paying for anthracite
about the same price that we were paying
in 1913. If 1t is possible for the Govern
ment to step in and prevent an increase
In the price above the present figures the
pOhteers Will be checked The excess of
demand over supply would naturally be fol-
lowed by an increase in the price. While
the operation of the law of supply and de-
mand cannot be permanently suspended it is
possible in such an emergency as now exists
to mitigate its rigors.
While the Governor has appointed a COM
mission of seven men with a general
knowledge of the subject he has announced
that lie will suggest that the commission
itself appoint a special commission of men
thoroughly familiar with the routes of coal
transportation, the needs of the people and
the market conditions throughout the State
to assist in working out the details of a
plan.
Whatever else is done 1t IS likely that It
will be found impossible to avoid some plan
of rationing fuel. Sugar was rationcd during
the war. Families were allowed to buy only
limited amount a week, and even then it
was impossible at times to get sugar. This
was partly because selfish housewives would
go from store to store and buy at each place
the full amount allowed to a family They
did this regardless Of their immediate needs.
1t will be easier to prevent such an abuse
in the distribution of coal than in the dis
tribution of sugar. for the reason that coal is
sold in fewer places and n record Of the
sales is kept.
| 1t may be necessary TO fix the limits of
the territory within which the retail dealers
! in Philadelphia may deliver coal and to
| forbid them to deliver any fuel outside of
! those limits. In this way check could be
kept upon the amount which each family
| buys, and the supply could be conserved
in such way as TO insure a limited amount
| OF fuel to every one in need of it,
Even though the strike should be settled
tomorrow the commission will have to
function. The mines already have been idle
for nearly four and one half months There
are not miners enough in the State to pro-
duce al the coal that is ordinarily bought
between September and Christmas. Most
of this coal is mined in the warm months
the months during which the mines have
been idle this year.
Conditions have been allowed 10 drift
until it has become necessary to resort to
heroic measures. II heroic measures had
been taken 10 bring the strike to an end
months ago we should not be compelled to
struggle. through coal shortage this winter.
A GORGEOUS ONE-SlDED JOKE