Evening star., 1923-08-16
President Coolidge Greatly
Encouraged by Coal Com
mission Intervention.
SAME PRICES EXPECTED
WITH PLENTIFUL SUPPLY
Railroads in Good Position to Dis
tribute Fuel-Bituminous Out
put Large.
RH the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
NEW YORK, August 16.-Pros-
poets for n peaceful settlement Of
the anthracite controversy through
mutual elimination of the check
of were believed today to have
received severe setback when
John l.. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America.
denounced the operators' truce pro-
posaI, as n "misIeading and con-
fusing document" which although
signed by y. ID. Warriner, spokes-
man for the employees, has been
drafted by Walter Gordon Merritt,
a 'union busting lawyer"
The crisis iE the anthracite situa-
ton Is believed in government circles
to. have been passed. An agreement
between the operators and miners
and continued operation of the mines
is expected.
President CoolidSJ .~ds represented
by callers at the White House today
as greatly encouraged over the sue
cess which has attended the efforts
to prevent a strike.
Price Boost Doubted.
There will be plentiful supply Of
coal and the prices for winter will be
advanced very little. if at all. It was
predicted in informed official quar-
ters today. In fact, in view of the
large production of anthracite al
ready this year, with continued oper-
alton assured. there might even be
slight reduction in some prices.
The total production of antharcite
for the first seven months of the pres
ent year. which includes July, but not
any of the production in August, totaled
59,489, 900 tons. The output has been
at high average monthly rate. higher
in fact, than In other years, except per-
haps. during the war period, when a
great deal OF coal was sold for indus
trial purposes which could not be used
by the ordinary consumer. Antharcite
around o 81, ,ooo.bdo tons, IS except m for the he
two war years, 1917 and 1913, al
ready mentioned when the quantity was
higher.
The railroads are in better shape to-
day to handle coal for distribution than
in long time 1t was said. The big
test of the transportation system will
come next month, however, when the
huge wheat and other crops must be
moved. as well as coal. The roads are
| confident they will be able to meet the
demand, however.
Senator Weller Of Maryland. re-
publican, one of the Presidents vis-
| itors today. said he had found Presi-
dent Coolidge more confident than
ever there would be no shutdown OF
| the anthracite mines. He said, fol-
lowing his talk with the President:
The President appears determined
| that there shall be no strike called,
| and, failing to prevent a strike, he
| seems to be determined that a strike
| shall be stopped"
| Coolidge Wins Praise.
The promptness with which Presi-
dent Coolidge took hold of the an
thracite problem, and with which he
acted to bring about governmental
interference through the coal COM
mission was the subject of much COM
ment in the Capital today. 1t was
pointed out that the psychology of
the situation in Washington had not
little to do with the quick results
which seem to have been obtained In
New York through the commission.
President Coolidge came to the
White House as completely informed
regarding the anthracite situation
almost as any member of the Coal
| Commission. His own state, Massa-
chusetts, had made very complete
study of the problem, and he was
| familiar with its results. He came
| from a section of the country where
! the demand for anthracite is great
and where there had been much suf-.
fering because of the strike last
year.
I 1t was clear. it swas pointed out.
to the miners and operators that
there would be little to be gained
President, with long statements and
briefs. It was clear also that COM
ing as he did from New England.
with the background of events of last
year. the President would not hesi-
tate to exert all the power of the
| government to handle the anthracite
| situation and to have the people sup
| piled with fuel.
The interjection of the coal commits
| sion into the situation, through direc-
! tion of the President. followed by a
threat to provide the people with sub
| stitutes for anthracite IL necessary.
followed in quick succession. The
President would have gone much
father II necessary. it is understood.
The total production of anthracite
| in 1922 was 52,4S5,000 tons. less than
/ the amount produced for the first
seven months of this year. due to the
| fact that the coal strike lasted Ave
| months. and in those months the out
| put ranged from 26. 900 tons to 1s1 900
/ tons per month. The output of an
! thracite by the month this year. ac-
cording to the estimates of the geo.
logical survey. has been as follows:
| January. 8,713,000 tons, February. T.
I 773, 1000; March, 9,3S2.000 April. s.
o63, 900; May. s.573.OoO; June. S.6s5. geo.
and July, 100000. ..
| Bituminous output High.
The total output of bituminous
| mines of the country for the first
| seven months of 1923 has been esti-
mated at S18,270.000 tons At this
rate the total production for 1923, II
Is estimated, will run about $50. .000,-
600 tons, or perhaps more. This Is a
| large production, as compared with
other years in which neither the war
conditions nor strike conditions were
felt.
The country, therefore. seems to be
| I'm excellent condition SO far as Its
fuel supply is concerned. In fact, the
bituminous' operators have declared
their confidence in their ability to
provide sufficient additional bitumi-
nous coal to make up deficit OF an
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