New-York tribune., 1922-09-26
Soft Coal Men
Agree to Speed
Up Shipments !
Operators Committee VIII
Confer With Rail Heads
and Distributor Spcns on
transportation Question
Cars Are Chief Problem
Say Adequate Hauling Fa-
cilities Will Relieve Con-
sumner and Lower Price

From The Tribmne's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-Bitumi
nous operators responded to-day to
President Harding's demand that there
be general speeding up of coal ship
ments during the next sixty days to
prevent hardships this winter. Presi-
dent A. NJ. Ogle of the National Coal
Association, it was announced by that
organization, mas named committee
OF eight representative operators to
take up the coal transpo rtarion ques-
ton with the railroad executives and
with Fuel Distributor Spcns. His move
is the outcome of conference in New
York last week of leading bituminous
operators.
"At last weeks conference the whole
bituminous coal situation as regards
this winters supply to the public was
canvassed, the unanimous conclusion
being expressed by the operators that
1t was wholly matter of getting the
output of coal moved from the mine to
the consumer" Mr.. Ogle said IAN ex-
haustive survey Of the situation showed
that in many Of the soft coal produc-
'ii5 iSANS LHt supply vi GdrS at LDlS
time is sufficient to keep the mines
going only two or three days a week,
while in some fields there has been an
even smaller supply of cars. The opin-
ion was emphasized that the utmost CO.
operation apon the part OF railroads
with the operators is necessary toward
furnishing additional cars to the mines,
so that more coal may be shipped to the
market
No Criticism of Railroads
mo criticism of the railroads was
implied in the opinions expressed by
the operators, the conditions in which
the carriers have found themselves
after the long period of the rail strike
being fully appreciated. However, it
was agreed, no matter what the cause.
the transportation situation as it al
fects the mines is one that must now
De met if the country is to have its
supply of coal for the winter"
The committee of operators com
prises ]. C. Brydon, president Quema-
honing Greek Coal Company, Somerset,
Pa, chairman; S. L. Yerkes, vice-pres-
ident Grider Coal Sales Agency, Birm-
ingham, Ala; E. C. Mahan, president
Southern Coal and Coke Company
Knoxville, Tenn; j. G. Bradley, presi-
dent Elk River Coal and Lumber Com
pany, Dundon, W Va; w. l.. Andrews
vice president Consolidation Coal
Company, Baltimore; A. NJ. Marion
president Charters Creek Coal Com
pany, Pittsburgh: w D. Ord, president
Empire Coal and Coke Company, Land
graft, w. Va, and H. j. Meehan, pres
idcnt Cosgrovc G; Co. johnstown, Pa
Hope to Keep Prices Down
This committee, it is announced, is
ready to cooperate with Distributor
Spens in the working cut OF practica.
means to expedite the movement OF
coal. All the coal men attending the
conference expressed the conviction
that if an adequate supply of cars is
furnished the mines at this time the
prospect of serious pinch in thc
country's coal supply will be overcome
With sufficient cars at the mines Sc
as to haul the coal to the consumer
those at the conference said, the price
problem as we'll as all distributor
difficulties would soon disappear, there
by relieving all apprehension of rum
away prices.
While in other years the railroads
in times of stress, have been able tc
handle 100000 tons of bituminous
coal a week, it was pointed cut at tht
operators conference, they are now
hauling less than 10,o0O,0 900 tons OF
coal. The bituminous mines, il was
said are in position at this time tc
load even more than 100000 tons Of
coal week.