The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1923-08-02
CONSUMERS OF
BITUMINOUS COAL
SHOULD BUY NOW
Railroads Now in Shape to Handle
and Move All Coal With Reason
able Promptness. Delay on Part of
Customer Means Inconvenience.

Washington, d. c., July "a, 1923
F r. Wadleigh, Federal Fuel
Distributor, in statement issued
today, says:
"An Official statement just re-
ceived from the American Railway
Association points out that, II coal
consumers do not now purchase
coal in anticipation of fall and
winter requirements, they will eX-
perience difficulty in procuring 1T
later in the season when railroads
are taxed with a heavy movement
of general traffic and particularly
agricultural products
The Railway Association points
out that while the carriers are III
shane to handle and move all coal
with reasonable promptness, pro-
yided the movement is distributed
throughout the entire year, they
are not provided with surplus equip
ment and facilities in sufficient
Quantity to offset in the fall months
failure of consumers to buy coal
during the summer months when
sufficient transportation is avail
able. They emphasize finally the
Importance of purchase of coal by
consumers now, for use during the
fall and winter months.
The foregoing warning should pe
acted upon by every consumes u
Unanimous coal, as simple HaIlei
of protection. If industrlal con
SINNERS hold off from purchasing
coal during the summer ana entel
the fall months with lnsu1flclenl
stocks of coal, it will then De
necessary for them to secure thelr
requirements just at the perlou
when rail traffic is at its peak, as
il has always been in late SepteH-
Der, October and November. They
are then likely to find themselves
in a difficult position and the coun-
try's rail transportation facilities
overburdened, with consequent de-
Law in movement of traffic, ensuing
shortage of equipment with con-
gestiOn at yards and terminals. The
railroads are now moving each week
the heaviest traffic in their history,
considerably exceeding estimates
and, should the present ratio OF
increase over estimates continue, all
previous traffic records will have
been exceeded.
The necessity, therefore, for the
heaviest possible movement OF coai
during the summer months Is APP
parent. if it is desired to give the
carriers the assistance they VIII
surely need and avoid a slowing
IN of the whole industrial move
ment, in which transportation plays
such an important and necessary
part. Industrial consumers can, Dy
purchasing and storing to capacity
as much as possible of their fall
and winter requirements, not only
aid the railroads, but industry gen
orally and, therefore, the interests
of the whole country.
The Secretary of Commerce, real
izing the importance OF summer
purchase of industrial coal and con-
Seouent aid to the rail carriers, mas
already written all trade assocla,
tions. calling their attention ana
that of their members to the sup,
iect. A further communication Will
be sent out in the next day OF tWo'
again emphasizing the advisab1llty
of summer coal purchase and stor-
age as it is felt by the Depart
ment that the industry generally
has not carried out to the fullest
possible extent, the advice contain
ed in the first letter"
All information Obtainable ind1-
Gates a continued decrease in coal
production due to lack of buying
This probably means decided IN
crease in coal demand during the
Fall months and which would
seriously add to the burden of the
railroads, at a time when they are
called upon to handle the peak
movement of all commodities. 1t
is altogether propable that If coal
consumers do not now take ad-
vantage of the opportunity to pro-
cure coal that they will experience
some difficulty in procuring it later
in the season when the railroads
are taxed with a heavy movement
of general traffic and particularly
agricultural products.
The railroad machinery is in
shape to handle and move all coal
with reasonable promptness, pro-
vided the movement is distributed
throughout the entire year, but it
is not provided with surplus equip
ment in sufficient quantity to off
set in the Fall months a failure OF
consumers to buy coal when suf-
ricient transportation is available
during the summer months.
Therefore, we believe it import
ant that every advantage should be
taken by consumers of the oppOr-
tunity to at this time procure coal
for use during the fall and winter
months