Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1919 — DECLARE COAL FAMINE IS NOT FAR OFF. [ARTICLE]

DECLARE COAL FAMINE IS NOT FAR OFF.

A coal shortage in the middle west is imminent, according to Carl Fletcher, of the Knox County Coal Operators’ association, and tors of Indiana are becoming alarmed over the situation. Mr. Fletcher Monday pointed out that statistics show that the mines of the state are operating on an average only about two and one-half days a week and that on account of the lack of market this year they will be able to operate only 180 days, compared with 211 'last year. Mr. Fletcher ascribes the lack of •market to the fact that domestic consumers still have supplies of coal from last winter, which was unusually mild. Other causes for the shortage this winter, he said, will be a shortage of cars and possible accidents which will lay the mines out of commission for days at a time.