Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-12
THREE CENTS.
Threat Of Coal
ShortageFaces
U. 5. Buildings
Complete Shutdown
Of Industry May
Be Ordered

BACKGROUND
TUo-year labor contract in soft
coal mines expired March 81.
Negotiations for reneUdl haze
been under 1Oay since March IA
NTH deadlock ouer issues of
closed shop and elimination OF
strike penalties from district
agreements. A total OF $4,000
miners are idle.
The soft coal "tie-up" in the APP
palachian fields today threatened
the Government with a shortage of
coal for all its principal buildings
here, from the Capitol to the White
House.
So serious has the situation be-
come that John L. Lewis, president
OF the United Mine Workers, nego-
tiating for settlement in New York
City, has been warned by telegram
that the reserve coal supply here
fast is approaching exhaustion
The telegram was sent by Capt.
H. E. Collins. assistant director of
procurement, Treasury Department,
who contracts for the Government
Fuel Yards, the Capitol Power Plant
and the Central Heating Plant.
A check-up disclosed that the big
Capitol Power Plant, which burns
200 tons day, and supplies not only
heat, but also power for the group
of buildings on Capitol Hill, has only
about four or five days supply on
hand.
Plant Has 10 Days Supply.
Central Heating Plant, in South
west Washington, which burns 400
tons of coal a day, has but 10 days
supply on hand. The Central Heat
ing Plant furnishes heat for most
of the big Government buildings
in the downtown area, including
the Federal Triangle, the Treasury,
White House and many others.
Meantime. according to dispatches
from New York. there was only
about 40 days supply of soft coal
from the Appalachian soft coal re-
gion.
Not only does the shortage threat
en- Federal buildings here but also
many other big Federal institutions
elsewhere, such as the Military
Academy at West Point, some hos
pitfalls and other buildings.
Concerned about its harine hos
pitfalls of the Public Health Service
the Treasury Department launched
a survey to determine what coal sup
plies these hospitals have They are
located in Maryland. Pennsylvania.
West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Vir-
GINA, Tennessee and Georgia.
Coal for Federal buildings has
been delivered this year under q
contract drawn up between the Gov
eminent and the Pennsylvania Coal
and Coke Corp. The contract. nego-
tiated by Capt. Collins. is based on a
30-day period, but with continual
ton proviso. renewing the contract
at the end of every 80 days, for the
fiscal year ending June 30.
Two Carloads Arrive.
According to officials here. the coal
supply furnished under the contract
is in danger of complete shut-of
unless the miners and operators
reach settlement of their differ
ences.
Two carloads of about 140 tons Of
coal arrived at the Capitol Power
Plant today. The Capitol Power
Plant has about 500 tons in its bunk
ers and about 200 tons in the yard.
Central Heating Plant has on hand
about 1000 tons.
If the spring weather should turn
colder the requirements of the Gov
eminent buildings would increase.
officials explained
The Capitol Power Plant supplies
the Capitol. House Office buildings.
Senate Office buildings, Supreme
Court, Library of Congress. City Post
Office and Government Printing
Office. To cut off its supply of cleo
tricity might prove even more serious
than to cut off heat should the
weather turn warmer.
"HItc E1uuSc NUH LACK neat.
In case of an emergency. Presi-
dent Roosevelt would not lack heat
for the White House. it was as
sured today by officials of the Ma
tional Park Service. in charge of
the White House heat. There is
a so-called breakdown plant" in
the adjacent State Department
building. which is connected with
the White House heating system
This plant burns oil and is equipped
and ready to go into action imme-
diately should the heat supply for
the White House from the central
heating plant fail
There is no possibility of a short
age of gas in Washington from the
coal tie-up. according to officials Of
(See COAL poCe A.2)