Show Production Hate Rate of Coal Mines lines More l e Than Since 1918 If It it ft weren't for the efficiency of the highly mechanized mining coal industry the fuel situation this year would be a lot more desperate than it is If we had to depend nd on 1918 production rod r rates for instance wed we'd just have bave ave to shiver through the win In ter In 1918 a war year It re reo required re- re required men working mines mirtes to dig tons tOilS Last year miners produced tons from 6 72 mines The total output of coal mostly i bituminous of course is estimated at million tons for the year eor Soft coal production has been running at nt atthe atthe the rate rote of about 12 million tons a n week during 1944 IOU The nation has been burning about al out tons a week so far this year ear so production Is slightly ahead of consumption This would lock like a sound and I safe situation Dut But it The squeeze eze comes because of I II several reasons Despite the splendid I did job the railroads and water vater car are doing the great volume of at freight they must handle hondle forces them to coal shipments for days das and ond weeks Thus many man localities may ma be in need ne d of coal coat but unable to get Jet It quickly Another lacier r is the uncertain but huge demand of the arn forces Great quantities of coal must be shipped to liberated coun countries I tries both for American military establishments and for Los the countries countries' own utilities |