Evening star., 1943-10-22
Coal Situation Bad,
Likely TO GET Worse,
Gray Tells Senators
By j. A, OLEARY.

The coal situation is bad and sis
likely to get worse" Deputy Fuel
Administrator Howard A. Gray told
a special Senate committee today.
He predicted it will be necessary
for some households to use soft coal
to meet immediate and critical
heating requirements"
The Solid Fuels Administration in
August limited hard coal consumers
to 80 per cent of last years supply,
and Mr.. Gray tod the committee
today it is believed the stockplle of
soft coal will have largely disap-
peared by the winter of l944-5,"
Even though bituminous stocks
are IN the main adequate to bring
us through this winter, careful Gov
eminent action is required, as
have explained. to insure equitable
distribution, Mr., Gray testified.
Massachusetts Hard Hit.
He took the stand after Senator
Walsh and Representative Philbin.
both Massachusetts, Democrats, had
pictured some families in New Eng
land as being without any anthra-
cite, though temperatures are get,
ting down to the freezing point in
some parts of that area.
Supplies everywhere are ex-
tremely low and in many instances
noneXiStent," Senator Walsh said,
adding:
Thousands of people, estimated
at least up to 80 per cent of those
who use anthracite, have no coal
or are unable to obtain it,"
The Senator said the alleged
supply OF anthracite" the Govern
ment plans to send to New England,
based on last years supply, does not
make allowance for these factors.
inventories OF New England coal
dealers on which this figure was
based were around 100000 tons less
than in April, 1912
Conversions Increased Need.
The many conversions from fuel
oil to coal requested by the Govern
ment last year increased the esti-
mated consumers of anthracite coal
TO 100000 tons over last wear,
People who use wood are not
able TO get wood and in increasing
numbers are endcavoring to obtain
coal"
Mr.. Phllbin said the present situ-
alton in New England NAV spread
along the whole East Coast before
winter is over.
The basic trouble is clear" Mr.,
Gray said Consumption require
ments for solid fuels have reached
an aI-tlme high level and arc con-
tlnulng to increase. Production of
solid fuels has not increased pro-
portionately.
approximately $4,000 900 tons of
coal Will be consumed in 1q43 w,ila
estlmated production will total 65O,-
ooo'0oO tons. he added. which means
stocKplles will have to be drawn on
Strikes Costly.
Mr.. Gray pointed out that 10000
ooo tons were lost as a result If
work stoppages in the mines thi-
year, and new stoppages have ;rsl
occurred in Alabama and Indiana
He said there also have been Slow
ups IN mines, because many miners
have been disgruntled because thew
nave not had contract.
The deputy also called attention
10 the fact $1,000 miners have gone
INTO the armed forces. In this con-
nectlon. Mr.. Philbin suggested that
consideration be given to furlouef-
ing miners IRON the Army He said
ne understood England had done
that.
Mr.. Gray said one thing is clear
namely, that every consumer of
coal must make every effort 10
conserve the available supply"
AS far as hard coal is concerned
the problem is entirely one of man
power and wages, Mr.. Gray said.
The coal is there if it can be mined
he added.
They have PENNSYLVANIA coal
miners in the copper mines, but thev
won't put coal miners in coal mines,
MI. GRAY said That's one of the
Things trat sticks III my craw."
Then he said the copper mines
rsll for more coal. Declaring that
first things should come first" he
argued that coal miners should be
used to mine coal.