Evening star., 1922-07-30
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
~ OAL to the home owner in the
District of Columbia means
4 hard coal. anthracite. His
furnace, CRATES and his stoves
are planned to burn hard coal. A
break in the supply of anthracite is
a severe blow to the people of Wash
ington, although with the Thermometer
lowering around 90 degrees in the
shade, it may be difficult to realize it.
Since April l anthracite coal mines
have been at a standstill. due to the
strike. The production of anthracite
coal during the year 1921 reached a
total of SO,779,S67 gross tons, which
measures approximately the con-
sumption. for no very great supplies
of coal are kept on hand. 1t is
commodity that is purchased and
used as it is needed.
Four Months of IdIeness.
From the first of the present year
up to April l the first quarter of the
year-the production of anthracite
amounted to 2o.4S6.000 gross tons.
For four months the production has
been cut off. 1t does not require
even a mathematical mind to under
stand that there will be tremendous
difficulty in making up for this lost
time. even after the strike ceases.
With the hard coal mines working
full blast. it will be manifestly impossi-
BILE to turn out in the next three months
August, September and October-the
coal which will be needed to heat the
homes of the people who use hard coal
during the cold months of next winter.
Anthracite coal is used to heat the
homes of millions of people along the
Atlantic seaboard. and the people Of
New England depend upon it particular
ly, just as they do here. New England
Is situated at a greater disadvantage
than the District of Columbia. however.
due to the distance of the northern
states from the mine fields.
Taste Of Coal Shortages.
The people of Washington have had
q taste of what a coal shortage means
at least twice in the last twenty
years. Once in 1902. the great an
thracite coal strike. which lasted from
May until the 23d Of October, tied
things up tighter thap drum and
made it very difficult to obtain coal
at any price; and second time dur
ing the winter of 1917-1S, when the
war was on. Bitterly cold weather.
with unusual snowfalls, the demand
for coal for war industries and the
difficulties of obtaining cars to haul
the coal. made the coal problem In
Washington, and, in fact. in many
parts of the county, difficult one.
There was considerable suffering here
and elsewhere.
Anthracite coal in Washington today
Is in the cellars Of the people-what
there is of ft-except for pea coal. But
the dealers are urging the people not to
become panicky. An adjustment Of the
coal strike is hoped for, and the federal
government already has taken steps
looking to the ALLEGATION Of coal as soon
as ii begins to come from the mines.-
Undoubtedly, in Washington, as in
other cities, local organizations will be
formed to see to the distribution of the
coal as it comes here. SO that every
RtlSeH uAS0 Ills SA1oiS. ioooois
a fuel administration. something like
that which had charge here during the
war, will be set UP.
Protection From Prohteers.
The government has taken steps also
10 prevent profiteer.ng in coal at the
expense of the people. The wide pow
srs granted the government under the
transportation act. which are being in
voked to aid in the ALLEGATION Of coal by
tho government, will be used to the full,
It is said. Also. Congress will be in
session in December and thereafter.
and il additional legislation be neces-
eary to prevent profteering, it may be
relied upon to take steps to handle the
situation.
The strike of the anthracite coal
miners in 1902 lasted from May IL to
Sptober %, when the men returned to
work after both sides ta the contro-
versy had agreed to abide by the de-
cisions reached by President Roose-
va.k.s coal commission, which was ap-
pointed October Is. The present strike
has not run so long by six weeks.
But the demand for anthracite coal
today is greater than 1t was twenty
years ago. In 1901, for example, the