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Real estate record and builders' guide: [v. 99, no. 2566: Articles]: May 19, 1917

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REAL ESTATE AND (Copyright, 1917, by The Record and Guide Co.) NEW YORK, MAY 19, 1917 COMMITTEE ON COAL PRODUCTION TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEM OF VITAL IMPORTANCE UNDER the act of Congress approved .August 29, 1916, providing that a Council of National Defense be estab¬ lished "for the cooperation of the in¬ dustries and resources for the national security and welfare, to consist of the Secretarv of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Comiiierce and the Secretary of La¬ bor," authority is given to the Council to organize subordinate bodies for its assistance and cooperation. F. S. Pea¬ body, Chairman of tlie Committee on Coal Production, made the following statement: "Pursuant to this authority the Coun¬ cil of National Defense has appointed Francis S. Peabody, chairman of and with authority to appoint a Committee on Coal Production, representative of the coal producing districts throughout the United States. It is the intention that the members of this committee shall act as chairmen of sub-commit¬ tees to be appointed by them in their respective districts. "The committee convened in Wash¬ ineton on May 9, at which time, in ad¬ dition to the members of the committee, there were present Secretary of the In¬ terior Franklin K. Lane, W. S. Gifford, Director of the Council of National De¬ fense and Bernard M. Baruch, Chair¬ man of the Committee on Raw Mate¬ rials, Minerals, and Metals, of the_ Ad¬ visory Board of the Council of National Defense, from whom an outline of the proposed scope of the committee's work was received. "In approving the appointment of this committee and laying before it the work that it was e.xpected to do. Secretary Lane referred to the cooperative spirit already shown bv the business men of the country in this mobilization of the resources of the United States. 'It would surprise the nations of Europe to know how intense is the spirit of loyalty on the part of our business men and capitalists. You are at the very root and foundation of the great industry— the war industry—that presents itself on the other side of the water. Now, there are two ways of dealing with a Droblem of this kind. One way is by the hearty cooperation of the men already engaged in the industry. The other wiy is by coinpulsion. My experience in the Interstate Commerce Commission led me to believe that the larger men in the railroad industry had quite as much vision as I had. and if I could show them the importance of an occasion they would try to meet it. So, instead of resorting to compulsion, instead of tak¬ ing over mines and great operating plants, we are endeavoring to put vou men at your best. This war is a" chal¬ lenge to us.' ^ "The countrv at the present time in the matter of its fuel production is con¬ fronted with a great emergency. Not¬ withstanding the increased production of coal from practically every district, the increasing requireiuents to meet the needs of all classes of industry, as well as for the comfort and welfare of the people and the transportation of troops, munitions, food, and other products, to- .gether with the suDpIying of our allies, ?nd for our national protection—all these demands are h'able to surpass the capac¬ ity of our mines unless the full coop¬ eration of the mining, transporting, and distributing agents of this country is secured. This emergency requires not only the development of the highest efficiency, especially on account of a diminished supply of labor used in the production of coal, but also in more comprehensive methods of coopera¬ tion by the coal producers with the transporting and distributing agencies, so that not only a full production will be secured, but also that this produc¬ tion finds its way over our railroads into those centers where the most urgent need exists. If the demand for this product con¬ tinues to increase it mav be necessary that active stens be taken to so far as possible confine the distribution and use of it to those activities which are more nearly vital to the welfare and protection of the nation. That this may not eflfect an unnecessary hardshio unon thp domestic welfare of our people it is necessary to promote the closest co-oo- eration, and because of the duty laid UDon us to promote this welfare we urge upon you that you cooperate with this committee in its efforts to promote the Ipreest production, the most equita¬ ble distribution, and the highest use to produce the best economic results. No doubt an emergency exists, but it is the beh'ef of this committee that with vour heartv support and the assistance of the niiblic in conserving supply, suffi¬ cient fuel can be had to meet public necessity. Cooperation Essential. "The committee believes that the first essential toward an increased produc¬ tion of coal is a close cooperation be¬ tween mine employer and mine em¬ ployee, and inasmuch as the United Mine Workers of America and the mine operators in several districts have al¬ readv pledged bv joint resolutions to the Council of National Defense, under whom this committee works, and have nominated committees, the services of which have been offered to the Council of National Defense to this end. we now call upon the several committees to use their best and continued efforts to increase, in so far as they are able, the production of coal for the public necessities by keeping the mines con¬ tinuously at work, avoidino' labor dis¬ putes and unnecessary shutdowns. The operation of well-established mines should not be impeded and the sugges¬ tion is made and urged that the practice of movincr miners from the mines of well-established producing companies or communities to other districts be dis¬ couraged, as this practice creates a state of unrest and tends to decrease the total output of coal, interferini? with the stabilitv of the industry which is nec¬ essarv for the highest efficiency. An effort should be made to instill in the mind of thp individual miner and opera¬ tor, as well as the organized bodv, the necessity of individual efforts and con¬ tinuous pprfonuance so far as work is offered. The miner or the company's representative who remains at work ren¬ ders as patriotic service as the man at the front. "The total production of coal through¬ out the country has been seriously cur¬ tailed bv difficulties in transportation ser¬ vice and unequal distribution of cars, re- stiltinff in shortage in the number of cars available for loading, as well as conges¬ tion in the avenv?? le£;ding to the points of distribution. Operators are urged that they pledge themselves to load all cars obtainable in the shortest time after the saine become available, and that they further take up and urge their customers to release these cars at the earliest pos¬ sible date after delivery so as to make them available for further use without unnecessary delay, and that all prac¬ tices such as unnecessary holding of cars for reconsignment or other pur¬ poses be discontinued except when ab¬ solutely necessary for the public wel¬ fare. "Transportation interests of this coun¬ trv have, at the suggestion of the Coun¬ cil of National Defense, formed a com¬ mittee appointed by the Council, whose duty it is to co-ordinate and promote the efficiency of our railroads and by agreement with the heads of the various railroad companies of this country the general policy of their operation has been delegated into their hands. It is the purpose of the Committee on Coal Production to work in the closest har¬ mony with the Committee on Transpor¬ tation and Communication. We urge distributing interests, especially in the centers of large population, in so far as is possible to deliver coal to their cus¬ tomers along normal and ordinary lines without creating unnecessary panic. We urge in turn upon all such distributors that information be sent to this com¬ mittee of conditions in such cities as may be benefited by a closer co-operation of all concerned in our effort to supply all communities with their needs. "If it is found that in any districts . surplus coal is obtainable at this time over and above the actual needs, it should be divided as equally as possible and stored in the bins of the ultimate consumer so that the normal operation of the industry so far as is possible may be continuous, which will tend to pre¬ vent the necessary hardships which re¬ sult from an unequal distribution of coal. ".Already the centralization in the op¬ eration of our transportation lines which has been vested in its committee has proved of the greatest benefit to the coal industry, and we believe that a like centralization secured through this com¬ mittee on coal production in all such matters as are furthered by the co-ordi¬ nation of all interests will promote a still higher efficiency and be of greater benefit to producer as well as consumer. "Secretary Lane expressed to this committee the desire of the Govern¬ ment that the business men of the United States feel that the burden of carrying on this war rests in no inconsiderable part upon those who represent the genius of economic and industrial life. In meeting the present emergency you can build for the future betterment of the industry by stabilizing it along sound economic lines. Hearty co-op¬ eration between mine-worker and opera¬ tor, and between producer and consu¬ mer expresses the best type of patriot¬ ism. The co-operation of the repre¬ sentatives of the Eastern semi-bitumin¬ ous coal districts in agreeing to furnish the United States Navy with its next year's supply on satisfactory terms pre¬ sents an example of the splendid spirit which we believe will characterize the coal industry as a whole. This is the patriotic opportunitv for co-ordinated effort and co-operative service to the nation. Therefore, we feel sure^we can rely upon your hearty support.