The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-11

chairman of the South Carolina Com
mission, will leave tomorrow for
Washington, where he will confer with
the members of the South Carolina
congressional delegation and national
fuel administration in an effort to
bring about Reconsideration Of fuel
orders, so that South Carolina mills
may get coal.
The serious condition existing in
tho state by reason Of the shortage of
coal and the inability under present
conditions for coal to be delivered
hcre sufficient to meet the needs, be-
came so acute that conference be-
tween the governor and the members
of tho railroad commission, fuel ad-
ministrators for South Carolina, was
held last night, at which all of the
details were thoroughly gone into.
The railroad commission, which has
been in charge of the distributions,
transportation and allotment of coal
for the state for the last week or ten
days, presented the facts and figures
to show that the coal on hand is less
than one-tenth of the normal supply;
that many of the industries are al
most entirely out of coal and some of
them have already closed down their
plants. The coal that has been re-
ceived up to the present time is large
ly coal that was in transit before the
issuance of the interstate commerce
commissions service order No. 23 of
July &c, taking the coal supply in
charge.
The commission finds itself unable
to get anywhere near an adequate
supply Of coal by reason Of the fact
that the service order of the inter-
state commerce commission governing
priority orders for fuel has placed the
bulk of the industries of South Caro-
lima in Glasses and s, giving prior
ity to vast numbers of industries
which are not located in South Caro-
lima. AS a result the supply of coal
that is available to the government
will be absorbed by Classes 1, 2 and ),
.fthe need for which in South Carolina
,as not as urgent as Glasses a and 5, IN
(which latter classes is included such
industries as cotton mill, cotton oil
VII! !,ttSS.4n-.Na &c tvu.e,. ,z.-,.,,,s. s,.fzt
rne peopIe u the s.;,a aI-- ll d, emily
do not realize the seriousness of the
situation, the commission announced,
but the commission and the governor,
who have made study of it and had
an inventory of the SUPPLIES on hand
made, feel that the people should be
awakened to the seriousness of the
present situation and to that end they
should conserve in every practicable
way the coal supply that is now on
hand or such as may from time 10
time be received, which necessarily
will be very mcager and totally made
quate for the actual needs of the in
dustries. This can be done by substi-
tuting in every way possible wood,
where available for fuel. The rates
on fuel wood in South Carolina arc
among the lowest, if not the lowest in
the Southeast and wood can be moved
a greater distance than would ordi-
narily be the case.
After an extended conference II
was the unanimous sentiment of the
commission and of the governor that
Chairman Shealy, who is possibly the
best posted authority and as a result
the most effective worker, be sent up
to Washington for the purpose of
meeting with the delegation of sena-
tors and congressman and through
them with the powers that be to-
bring about such changes in the re-
classification Of industries in this
state as to prevent the threatened
shutdown. Mr.. Shealy will be ac-
companied to Washington by r. S.
Greer, member of the staff of the
commission, who has had wide expert
ence in such work.
The supply of coal obtained by the
commission up to date has been limit
ed and that supply has ben the result
of the indefatigable efforts Of the
commission and has been brought
about by the use of every method
known to them.
After the conference the following
telegram was forwarded to every
member of the South Carolina delega-
tion in Washington in the hope that
some relief may be given:
"Coal situation very serious. Chair
man Shealy of railroad commission
will arrive Washington Saturday
morning. Kindly meet him there 10
o'clock or on arrival of train if delay
ed. Can not impress upon you too
strongly the necessity for some action
to relieve conditions here.
"Wilson G.. Harvey,
"Governor."
If tho necessity arises Chairman
Shealy will wive the governor and a
number of utilities and cotton mill
men will go to Washington to present
the matter before the federal author
tips