Show I I L Coal Situ Situation tion I T THERE HERE can be no doubt doubt that unless conditions ma materially improve improve improve im- im prove during the summer and fail fal the thel United States as a whole will experience one of the worst coal f famines in its history Reports from practically every very section of the country tell of a growing scarcity of coal coat with reserve stocks dwindling to lo the point I of extinction and small consumers constantly increasing their bids ds' ds in in efforts to acquire supplies Big coal producers it is is' stated are tied up on long term contracts while the smaller ind independents are selling their output to lux luxury rf in industries for foreign ign buye buyers s and others othes who are willing to pay a stiff premium Naturally the one one big ig obstacle in th the e w way y to rapid distribution I tion Hon of coal from the producing points is the lack of of aa adequate quate cars for rail movement In addition to this the water rates owing Qwing to 4 increased costs of loading and unloading h have ve become almost aImos pro pro pro- h As an ex example it is sta stated ed that the New I England g nd district I is is-inot is no re receiving more than han tons tops st of f w water borne t r- r rp p ne coal coat per annum an m compared d with 11 90 to d i 2 tons ons considered the normal I The Europe for coal is entering seriously into the supply situation in the United States to a greater extent than ever It before fore It is stated that coal rec recently has been shipped from the ted States at the rate of nearly tons a week in addition addi- addi i I tion to an increased movement to Canada When it is considered that some ome European countries are willing to pay several times the prevailing price in this country plus all f j costs ts of shipments it Is not surprising that A Am American rican producers should hould have a desire to supply such a demand i As a whole the conditions such are that it would not be sur- sur t if if a federal fuel administrator again were appointed and tt entire coal industry pl placed ced under control to to o othe the s same me extent that that prevailed during the war It c |