Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1919 — BUY YOUR COAL THIS SUMMER. [ARTICLE]

BUY YOUR COAL THIS SUMMER.

The public should not make the mistake of under-estimating the seriousness of the fuel situation simply because the war is ended. The National Coal association has warned consumers repeatedly that purchases must 'be made this summer if a shortage is to be avoided next winter. The people cannot realize too soon nor too fully that they are courting disaster by delay. They responded to the call for early buying last year as a patriotic duty and should do so again this season for the same reason. The government estimates the coal needs of the country for the year at 530,000,000 tons. The stock on hand January was 30,000/OOO’leavingatotal bf 5 5g0,600,000 to be produced. TheipiSßiction from the first of the year June 14 was only 195,000,000 tons, leaving a total of 305,000,000 to be produced in the remaining twenty-eight weeks of the year, or an average of 10,900,000 a week. The production the first part of the year was only 8,125,000 tons.* To meet requirements production must be increased 2,775,000 a week during the rest of the year. That is possible only if the consumers will put in their orders and get the coal to moving in larger volume. The coal output has physical limitations that must not be ignored. The public should not have to be reminded that the miners can not mine nor the railway lines handle next winter’s fuel requirements in a few weeks just before tire cold weather sets in. The task is too great. If anything dike such a rush is attempted the result will be congestion, delays and forced suspension of industries in some commiumities, to say nothing of a fuel-famine in many homes. The consumer should recognize the 'logic of the situation and realize that 'he is not only protecting himself but is performing a patriotic service by putting in his coal now. It is important that industry, should be unhampered in time of peace as well as in war. The citizens of the country .can protect it against a shut-down next winter and it is up to them to do so by utilizing to capacity at present the, country’s fuel producing facilities.