New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-07-09
WORD OF COMFORT
IN COAL SITUATION
Govt. Fuel Administrator Reports
Biz Stocks on Hand
ny GEORGE II. MANNING

| n
| washington Bureau of New Britain HeraId).
Washington, ID. c., July s.-With
the coal miners threatening to back
up their demand for a 20 per cent
wage increase by strike, the federal
fuel distributor comes to the front
with a word of comfort in the shape
of survey of stocks of coal on hand
in the country, showing that the sup
plies held in storage on June l were
the largest since the spring of 1929.
and that with continued high produc-
ton OF both hard and soft coal last
month, the stocks are believed to have
been increased since then. &
Stocks OF bituminous coal held on
June / by commercial consumers
were sufficient to operate the indus
tries of the country for at least a
month, on the average, or for 80 days.
for all industries except coke and
steel, based on the rate of consump-
ton for the three months prior to
June 1. This was an increase of 1854
per cent in days supply over the
amount of March /. In eight states.
supplies held by the industrial es-
Establishments were sufficient to last
more than 60 days.
Stocks of anthracite held by retail
dealers increased 100 per cent from
March L 10 June l., and with con-
tinued record production last month
have probably increased still further.
although the spring demand is unus-
ually heavy.
There are no reliable statistics on
the amount of anthracite stored In
househoders bins, but examination
of production figures and retailers
stocks indicate that householders are
remembering their inability to pro-
cure a full supply of hard coal dur
ing the past winter, and are laying in
somewhat larger supplies than usual
at this time of the year. Owing to the
probable smallness of the carryover,
however it is impossible to say how
much. larger than normal this accu-
mutation is.
In the 20 principal anthracite-
burning states, the stocks on hand
held by retailers was greater in 5
on June l than on March /, and
lower in only eight states. The area
of increase took in, in general, the
north central and middle Atlantic
states.
The total amount of soft coal held
in storage by commercial users on
June | was about 100000 tons. I
Coal-gas plants had on hand enough
to run IS days, electric utilities were
prepared for As days operation at the
same rate that has prevailed in recent
months while the railroads, with only
Fl days supply on hand, were moot
sfor any stoppage of coal
production.
Retail dealers had on hand about
27 days supply of bituminous COAL
the demand for soft coal for house.
hold use as a substitute for anthracite
having fallen off considerably with the
end of cold weather.
In addition to the soft coal stored
by commercial plants, there are sew
eral million tons which have been
raised from the mines, but not yet de-
livered to consumers. Supplies on the
lake docks are heavy, there beinS In
excess of 100000 tons on the
Lake Superior docks The quantity
of unbilled coal in cars standing at
the mines increased from $4,000 tons
on March to 421 900 tons on June I.
About one million tons were reported
in storage ct the mines.
Both anthracite and bituminous
we're maintained at high
levels last month, and supplies are be-
ieved to have increased