Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1916 — NO COAL FAMINE; ROADS TO BLAME [ARTICLE]

NO COAL FAMINE; ROADS TO BLAME

Shortage in Fuel Attributed to Lack Of Cars; Managers Charged With Favoring Manufacturers. The present coal shortage and the threatening fuel famine are due to the lack of sufficient cars to transport the coal from the mines to the consumers and not to any decrease in the output of coal, according to findings of the interstate commerce commission. Commissioner C. C. McChord has requested all railroads to return to their owners as quickly as possible all foreign cars in their possession. Indications are that-within afew weeks the acute situation will have yielded to an effective solution. If present plans fail it is suggested that the interstate commerce commission may place an embargo on foreign trade in favor of domestic business and thus insure the transportation of foodstuffs and other necessities without weeks of delay. Railroad managers who have come in for a large share of the blame for the shortage of fuel are planning effective remedies. They cite that the car shortage is the worst experienced in the past ten years. In Chicago and other western cities investigations are in progress indicating that coal brokers have boosted prices beyond all reason. One Chicago concern is said to have agreed to supply all customers “in spite of the coal famine.” They are demanding from $2.50 to $8.40 for coal that formerly sold at from 80 cents to $1.25 a ton. ■ Another situation has come to hgnt indicating unfair dealings in supplying cars, munitions manufacturers in the east havng 100 per cent of cars required for three eight-hour shifts, while coal operators have only 50 per cent of cars requested for one eighthour shift.