Evening star., 1944-04-06
Munpower
Continued From First Page.)

the loss in production to 1000, 600
tons a year, he added.
Would Boost Deficit Greatly.
Due largely to manpower losses
already incurred, STA officials say
this years coal production will fall
26,000, 600 tons short of the Ma
tion's requirements. Should all OF
the physically fit young miners be
inducted the coal deficit would be
raised $4,000, 900 tons, or about 8
per cent of the total annual pro-
duction, Mr.. Ickes said.
The Secretary added that if the
young miners are inducted it "looks
like we will have to live on a hand
to-mouth basis. We will not be able
to add to the stock pile of coal which
is already down to 28-day supply"
He said supplies of coal already
mined had been reduced in the last
year from 100000 tons to about
10000, 900 tons, and I'VE have lost all
hope Of getting through this coal
year comfortably"
Mr.. Ickes declared that the aver
age age Of miners has risen in the
last four years from 80 to IS years,
and added that "as the age rises,
the effectiveness of the worker
decreases"
A Government coal official, mean
while, said he feared this coun-
try in disregarding manpower
needs Of the coal industry was
duplicating a mistake made early
In the war by Great Britain.
He said Britain drained men
from the mines and, as q re-
suit, transportation was impeded
and a coal shortage developed from
which the country still has not re-
covered. When the British finally
realized their mistake, he said, they
made recruitment for work in the
mines as important a task as OBJ
tanning men for the RAF, which was
Britain's first line of defense.
The official said the mines already
have lost 10000 men to other war
industry besides a large number
who have entered the armed serv-
ices, and that all efforts Of man
power officials to obtain replace
ments had failed.
The Army overlooks one impor-
tant point in its desire to draft the
young miners, the official con-
tinued, and that is that the rail-
roads on which the war effort is so
dependent, use Is per cent of the
Nations coal output. He added
that war production will suffer
across the board" If the miners are
taken, and that householders who
use coal would suffer as much as
the war effort.
Small Utilities Hard Hit.
There were indications also that
the Nations utilities industries, in
Guiding communications, power, gas
and water, will be hard hit by the
drafting of their younger man
power. The industries will not be
recommended for deferments. Re
ports are reaching Washington that
some small utilities already are
closing down because of manpower
dlf1culties. An Official said a small
gas manufacturing plant in Mich
igan had shut down and a few in
the Pacific Northwest were threat
ing to close.
BY and large, an official of the
ONCE of War Utilities said, the
larger utilities would not be so
greatly affected by the drafting of
their men under 26.
The utilities industries are con-
cerned most about the application
of the tough" deferment policy to
men over 26, and about the effect
OF the draft on coal production, he
continued.
He said his Office was prepared to
ask VINO for continued deferment
of all men over 26 in occupations
classed as Critical" although it was
uncertain how far they would get in
that direction. Efficiency of all
utilities would be greatly impaired
he said, If any quantity of men over
26 are taken