Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-09-13
Strikes Delay
Wanted Goods
CPA Reports on Results of
Soft Coal Walkout
On Production.


WASHINGTON. - The soft coRI
strike and other work sioppagcs sci
back the output Of automobiles and
other consumer goods by Rt least
three months. according 90 Civilian
Production Administrator Small.
MIR Small also declared that tho
mine strike, settled = few days ago,
was extremely costly 10 the sta
biliHation program" He said Il had
delayed the time In q number Of
cases at which price ceilings can be
safely removed"
Small estimated that the coal
strike alone had cost the country
close to two billion dollars In lost
production, mot counting the loss
Of wages 20 the million-odd work
erS" II made idle.
The American economy will bear
the scars Of the coal strike Cor many
months TO come" the cPA chief pre-.
dicted In his monthly report on
production.
This gloomy note was In contrast
10 the rest Of the report, which told
Of record consumer goods produc.
ton In April. before the fun impact
Of the coal stoppaEe was felt.
Cites Purchasing Power.
Small said that for some products
among them tires, mems suits,
electric irons. and vacuum clean,
srS--American industry surpass ed
peace time records In March or
April.
And postwar peaks were reached,
he reported. in production Of auto.
mobiles. trucks. women'S hosiery.
refriGeratorS. stoves. radios and
sewing machines.
Why are consumer goods still so
hard to find despite the fact they
are. as Small said. being produced
In greater quantity now than ever
before In peace tims"1 Hls an.
Swer:
The reason for the shortage Of
goods lies In the fortunate fact that
consumers are In possession Of large
amounts Of purchasing power and
that they are determined 10 use that
purchasing power for the immedi.
ate satisfaction Of their pentup
wants"
Dollar wise. manufacturers ship.
ments In April were double the 1889
rate. Small said. while In terms Of
quantity they were At least so per
cent greater,
Reporting that jobiessnsss de-
clined last month--again before the
full impact Of the coal stEiks--for
the irSt time since japan surrsn-
tered. Small said civilian employ.
ment rose 10 Q record high Of S4.-
800. 900 persons early In April.
Noting that this 10 close 10 the 81
Otllion mark defined In some quar-.
ters a. full employment" Small
predicted the country 10 likely 10
face q severe labor shortage In the
closing months Of this year.
Takes Up Housing.
He said that retail sales In April
and since the start Of the year had
ToRrsd In various lines from 30 10
lbs per cent over levels for the same
period In lD45
As for housing. Small reported
hat residential construction IN.
!ressed rs per cent from March TO
April.
Surveying some Of the effects Of
the coal strike. Small said industries
which suffered most include steel,
railroads. utilities. chemicals. non.
ferrous metals. automobiles, tires,
farm machinery, and building mate.
rails.
Important programs. such aS the
food program and the veterans
emergency housing program, re-.
ccived serious Setbscks." Small de.
clared.
The production u critical build.
ing materials. such 80 brick, tile.
gypsum board. heating equipment,
Hnd items made from iron csstinRs,
was checked by the lack Of fuel
''PeriShsbIs crops will be lost due
10 . shortage Of both glass contain
ers and tin cans. The loss Of zinc
and lead production. because Of the
power shortage which resulted from
the coal strike. viii affect . vide
range Of items from galvanized
sheets and brass fittings 10 high iss,
gasoline"
Steel production. Small reported,
declined steadily 70 less than 80 per
cent q capacity by the middle Of
Missy.
3, 600 Miles of Trails