New Britain herald., 1925-11-14
LEWIS WARNS THAT
 COAL SHORTAGE IS
 NOW REALLY ACUTE
Declares Supply Can Not Be Brought to Normal Even fl
 Men Return Tomorrow
ALSO CALLS ATTENTION
 TO BITUMINOUS DANGERS

AuDU UALlO AIIENIlUN
 TO BlTUMINOUS DANGERS Declares That American Public is
 Facing Wholesale Asphyxiation if
 They IgnoratIy Burn Soft Coal in
 Anthracite Gratcs-Encouragtng
 Reports From Philadelphia Not
 Confirmed.
 Washington. Nov. 14 R-Tamilies in thousands of American homes with heating plants built for anthra- cite will run the risk of wholesale asphyxiation" If they attempt 10 burn bituminous coal as a substitute during the present suspension in the anthracite field, warns John l.. Lew Is, president of the United Mine Workers of America.
 Shortage Is Genuine
 Writing In the current issue Of the American Federationist. official or gan of the American Federation of Labor, Mir. Lewis couples this ad- vice with the staten ent that even If anthracite mining were resumed im- mediately 1t would not be able 10 overcome the shortage before next spring.
 If the mines were to start work tomorrow, which Is extremely un- likely" Mir. Lewis said, from pres ent prospects, production and distri- button would not catch up with fuel requirements before the coming of the next spring."
 Discussing the use of anthracite substitutes and the contention of bituminous producers that, with soft coal production now exceeding the amount necessary to meet all of the nations fuel requirem this win ter, there was no reason for alarm, Mir. Lewis declared:
 Wrong Equipment
 Anyone who has any technical or practical knowledge of the rela- tive substances and form Of the two fuels, hituminous and anthracite, knows full well that the anthracite equipment will not burn bituminous coal in a manner that will protect the health and safety of the house. holders.
 There are hundreds and hundreds of miles of tenement houses In our great centers of population in the eastern country where the chimneys are built for anthracite fuel. Any attempt to burn bituminous coal in those chimneys will mean the whole sale asphyxiation of whole families by reason Of the fact that the gases from the bituminous products can- rot be carried away by the vents and orifces in the roofs of the domiciles.
 A Rude Awakening "The American people are due for a rude awakening. The anthracite commodity takes care of the fuel re- quircments of some 60,000 communi- ties in the Atlantic seaboard coun- try, and 1t is physically impossible. even were other conditions favorable, for the railroads to transport enough bituminous coal into these 60,0OO communities to care for their re- uuirements, even If they could burn it."
 Mir. Lewis added that he had been assured by some of the leading 1n- dustrial engineers of the country that the by-product coke industry would be unable to expand It's pro- duction facilities to any appreciahle degree to supply that product as substitute for anthracite.
 No Confirmation
 Philadelphia, Nov. 14 R-Opti' mistic reports regarding the early ending of the anthracite suspension lacked confirmation today. The re- ports originated in the hard coal re- zion and were 10 the effect that there probably would be a meeting of operators and miners next Tues day when an offer of a five per cen wage ints,ease or a modified check off would be considered. The miner' demands include a ten per cent in crease in wages and the checkoff which means that the union due would be collected by the employers
 John L. Lewis, president of th' United Mine Workers, who discussed the situation with Governor Pincho on Wednesday. said he had heard 0 no such proposals Thomas Ken nedy, secretary treasurer Of the Min CTS union. at his home in Hazletol also said he knew nothing of the re ports, but added:
 Feels Optimistic
 "I am very optimistic that eco homie factors will bring about al inevitable end of the controvers and at the same time insure peac and continue prosperity to the re gion."
 Governor Pinchot, who also con ferred with Major W. w. lnglis chairman of the operators negotiat ling committee this week, was at hi home in Milford today. He declin ed 10 discuss what took place at tn meetings with the leaders of the tw sides.
 The l5S,nOO miners, who hay been idle since September 1, whe their working agreement expired ar looking for the governor 10 make tn next move. None of them wer prepared to say that what it migh be