The Winslow mail., 1925-08-07

strike of 1922, and that the amount
in storage is still declining.
"On April 1, 1922, in anticipation
of the strike in the bituminous
mines which began on that date"
says the Railway Age, "the amount
stored had been built up to about
100000 tons. During the five
months of the coal strikes three
fourths of the storage supplies were
wiped out. Then for more than a
year production and transportation
of coal progressed on large scale
and on Jan. l, 1924, storage sup
plies reached 100000 tons.
During the year and nine
months that have elapsed since
then consumption has steadily ex-
ceeded production, and in conse-
'quence storage supplies have stead
lily declined. The Geological sur
vey reported that on June /, 1925,
there were in storage only 38,000,
900 tons of bituminous coal. We do
not know exactly at what rate coal
has been consumed since then,
but we do know that from June l
to Sept. 1, 1924, consumption aver
aged S,666,000 tons week, and il
is reasonable, in view of general
business conditions, to assume
that the weekly rate of consump-
tiOn this summer has been at least
as large as it was last summer.
The reports of the Geological sur
vey show that the production o.
coal during the seven weeks from
May 80 to July 18 averaged only
S,431 600 tons a week. This would
indicate that since June / storage
supplies have been reduced at the
rate of about 235,000 tons a week,
and that there are now only about
36,000,000 tons in storage.
This is the smallest amount that
ever has been in storage at any
time since June 1, 1920, except
during and Immediately following
the coal strike of 1922; and if pro-
duction and consumption should be
continued at the present rates until
Sept. l the supply in storage on
Sept. 1 would be only about $4,000
600 tons, or 100000 tons less
than on Sept. 1, 1924, and 22,OOO,O0O
tons less than on Sept 1, 1928, and
only 100000 tons more than on
Sept. /, 1922, just before the great
coal strike ended
In what condition would the
public find itself if there should be
strike in the anthracite mines?
The production of anthracite thus
far this year has been about the
same as last year. If, however,
there should be an anthracite
strike there would be a large de-
mand for bituminous coal from
those who usually burn anthracite
This would greatly increase the
load upon the bituminous coal
carriers. Finally, in what condt-
ton would the public find itself il
there should be strikes not only
in the anthracite, but also in some
of the bituminous mines?
"The railways can transport
great deal more bituminous coal
than they are now handling. 1t
would be much better, however, for
the railroad business in particular
and business in general if coal
were shipped in larger amounts in
the summer months, with the re-
suit that the railways would be
called upon to handle less Of it in
the fall and winter months. Fur
thermore, there is a limit to the
amount of coal the railways can
transport, especially when it be-
comes necessary to move it over
new routes because of strikes. The
supplies now in storage give the
public a very narrow margin of
safety, and if it were wise it would
begin buying and storing more
coal at once"