The New York herald., 1922-07-31
PERIL IS FORESEEN
IN COAL SHORTAGE
Question of Winters Supply
Is Worrying Officials of
Government.
NO ANTHRACITE MINED
Production Lost as Result of
Strike Never Can Be
Regained.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., July 30.
AS the days pass without settlement
of the strike which has prevented the
production of coal for nearly four
months, the question of where this
winters supply of domestic coal is
coming from assumes larger and
4 4ver proportions in the minds Of
Government officials and the public.
Anthracite is used almost entirely
for domestic purposes. while bitumi-
nous is chiefly used commercially-in
factories. by the railroads and other
Industries. When the public thinks OF
coal it generally thinks in terms Of
anthracite.
Since the beginning of the strike on
April practically no anthracite. ex-
cept small duantity on the surface.
which has been obtained by the use
of the steam shovel. has been mined.
If mining operations were to be re-
sumed tomorrow and continued un-
interruptedly until next spring coal
enough to meet the requirements Of
the public during the winter months
could not be produced.
The maximum rate of anthracite
production in the United States is
%. 100000 tons a year; the consump-
ton will. average from s5.ooo,ooo to
95.000,000 tons. depending on whether
the winter Is long and severe or short
and mild. BY these figures it readily
can be seen that it has been impos-
sible to lay up any great reserve Of
coal for domestic use because the con-
sumption equals the production.
The difference between consumption
and production Is this: 1t is necessary
for the mines to operate uninterruptedly
the entire year in order to produce
domestic coal enough for the winter
months, as only small quantity is used
during the summer. The estimated
amount consumed monthly In the winter
is around Il, 900 900 tons; the maximum
monthly production does not exceed
1900 900 tons. Because of the four
months strike. therefore. there will be
shortage of about 30.ooo.ooO tons of do
mestic coal this winter.
Small Reserve Quantity.
An inventory of the stock Of anthra-
cite ready for use in the United States
by the Geological Survey reveals the
fact that there is very small quantity
held in reserve. On March ], 1922, there
was coal enough on hand to last twen-
ty-eight days. This stock has been
slightly depleted during the summer
and at present it is estimated there Is
produced coal enough In the United
states TO last between twenty and twen-
ty-five winter days.
DR.. George o. Smith. director Of the
Geological Survey. an authority on coal.
after making a thorough study Of the
conditions in the United States made
this statement:
AS production even on a full time
canacity is insufficient to supply all
the domestic fuel required. the in
terest of every one concerned lies In
realizing the utmost that the mines
are capable of producing. IL we are
TO keep warm the anthracite mines
mus, be kept working without inter-
,,,ntIon: their entire output Is needed
and tonnage once lost can never be
made up.
A study OF the twenty day strike OF
anthracite miners in September. 1920.
confirms DIR. Smiths statement. That
strilse meant the loss of 2.700.000 tons
~ coal. which could not be made UP.
Az a result the regular flow OF anthra-
cite TO points Of consumption was inter-
fered with and complaints OF shortage
were received from many localities by
Government officials.
Fortunately a mild winter followed
and prevented this condition from re-
sulting in any great amount OF actual
suffering. but the distress and anxiety
caused by the high prices and fears OF
a shortage were very keen.
Practically all the anthracite produced
In the United states comes from Penn
svlvania. Anthracite is mined IN vir-
einia. Arkansas and Colorado. but in
such small quantities as to make little
difference In the national situation. The
anthracite mines Of Pennsylvania cover
an area OF $50 square miles.