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Show GOVERNMENT IS TO DISTRIBUTE COAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE UP DISTRIBUTION DIS-TRIBUTION OF FUEL FROM MINES TO NEEDY Production Still Remain Very Low Despite Harding's Invitation To Reopen Properties Prop-erties Washington. The government wltn the cooperation of the states assumed Monday the duties of a gigantic middleman, mid-dleman, passing on the coal from the producing mines to the industries and localities which, in the eyes of the government, need it mo3t. The organization of the government's govern-ment's emergency coal distributing agency was pronouced to be nearly complete, and Henry B. Spencer, the federal fuel distributor, his committee and advisory subcommittee as designated des-ignated by order of President Harding will begin active functioning. Just how much coal the government can count on remains a matter of speculation. "There is no indication of increased production in response to President Harding's invitation to the mine owners own-ers to reopen mines in any of the strongly organized districts," the geological geo-logical survey commented. The total production for the past week of 3,900,000 tons of bituminous and 27,000 tons of anthratic is compared com-pared by the survey with a normal production at this season, including anthracite, of from 9,500,00 to 12,000,-000 12,000,-000 tons. Normal consumption at this time of year would be 8,000,00(1 tons of coal a week. Executive offices for the coal con trol organization are to be located in one of the government's temporary wartime buildings and an adequate staff is being mobilized to handle the rush of reports and orders which an; expected to flow through Washington. Covered by priority orders from the Interstate commerce commission, all coal now being produced is to be bought under the fair price levels to be maintained by the federal fuel distributor, dis-tributor, freight cars being withheld from dealers who sell at advanced prices. Railroads and interstate public utilities utili-ties are to be the concern of the federal fed-eral government as far as direct contact con-tact with the consumers goes, while supervision of the distribution between be-tween states is designed to put all localities on an equal footing as regards re-gards bulk supply, after which control of profiteering and allotments of fuel is to be a state matter. Bunker coal is to be kept at a minimum min-imum and foreign ships required to fill their bunkers abroad for the round trip, while exports will only be permitted per-mitted in case of shipments destined for consumers who cannot otherwise supply themeslves. FLOOD CAUSES HEAVY DAMAGE Over $1,000,000 Million Dollars Worth of Damage Done By Water Omaha With the flood waters oi Saturday receding, reports Monday presented the picture of devastation to the thounsands of acres of Nebraska farm lands swept clear of all crops, thousands of head of livestock lyvng dead ami proerty loss conservatively estimated a $1,000,000. Small s,reams, flooded by the cloud burst of Friday night, spreaa over Pierce, Wayne and Stanton counties inundating towns with from several inches to several feet of water and forcing citizens to flee to hlgtier ground. More than half the inhabitants o( Pilger, Neb., were forced to flee fron their homes, reports saying that not a house in -the tiwn escaped bein;-flooded. bein;-flooded. Randolph, Walthill and Pierce, Neb., Iwd similar experiences Flood waters of the North Fork river riv-er reached Norfolk, Neb., early Sunday, Sun-day, but were held hack by sandbar levees piled up by laborers who work ed all of Saturday and Sunday. Highway traffic in the vicinity o' Norfolk and north of there has hee suspended. Bridges are gene and nads are hardly more than mires. A number num-ber of towns in the inundated cour. ties are without train service, thou sands of f"et of track having been washed out. Traps Used to Captjre Hoppers Hurley, Idaho. Many farmers here have found th?ir clover crop so serious ly menaced by the grasshoppers that they are going over their fields earl day with large canvas traps wide' catch the hopperj as they fly up. |