Abstract

The Alarming Coal Situation

The outlook for next winter's fuel supply is extremely bad and discouraging. For industrial purposes, taking hard and soft coal together, there is a considerable shortage in production, and this is beyond help. Any forecast that can be made for the domestic consumer who depends on hard coal alone is so complicated by provisos that there is simply no telling what his plight will be. About fourteen per cent, of the mine laborers have disappeared from the anthracite district; a majority of them have gone into the service, and more are being called. This points to an inexcusable lack of coordination between the U.S. Fuel Administration and the War Department. But aside from the certified miners, there are great numbers of men employed about the mines who mostly rank as low-grade laborers and yet cannot be replaced by any considerable labor turnover without retarding production.