LOST PRESTIGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1920, Page 3

LOST PRESTIGE.

GREAT BRITAIN'S OOAL TRADE. PASSING TO AMERICA. That the Uuitod States will soon become the chief source of coal supply lor other nations of the world is the belief expressed in the November issue of Commerce Monthly, the magazine of the National Bank of Commerce in New York. It is pointed out that the United States, althougii it produces more than half of the world's coal, has in the past left the export trade domination in this commodity to England, whose deposits are but a small percentage of those of America. England, however, with production dwindling as a result of the war and her labor unrest, seems inevitably bound to yield place to the United States. '•More than half of the total coal resources of the world are located in the United States," Commerce Monthly says. "During the past ten years, production of coal in the United States has developed remarkably, showing in 1918 an increase of 32 per cent, over the average production during the five years 100!) io 1913, The most rapid increases in production have taken place in Illinois and West Virginia, the output of the former of these States for 1918 being 31,000,000 tons, and of the latter 24,000,000 tons over the 1909 to 1913 average. Pennsylvania increased her bituminous output 22,000,000 tons, as compared with her average of 1909 to 1913, and anthracite production for 1918 was 11,000,000 tons over the average for the same period.

"While American coal production in 1918 broke all records, output for the current year will be far below that level. If the present rate of output is maintained, anthracite production will be about 76,000,000 tons and bituminous production 432,000,000 tons, a total of 508,000,000 tons, the lowest production since 1015. It is believed that anthracite production is adequate, but at the present time it is not possible to determine whether or not the country faces an actual shortage of bituminous coal during the coming winter. "The acute problem is not, however, the domestic but the international coal situation. The present coal shortage in Europe is due to many causes, chief among them being shortage of labor, reduction in hours of work, and more than all, a general state of induslrial unrest and disorganisation as a result of the war. These factors have all contributed to enormous increase in the cost of production, variously estimated at from 75 to 150 per cent, over the cost of production in 1913. Prior to the war, the coal importing countries of Europe were supplied by Great Britain, Germany, and, to a small extent, by Belgium. Although Germany was bound under the Peace Treaty to deliver 43,000,000 tons of coal to France in the next six months-, she was not able to furnish this amount, and the requirement was reduced to 20,000,000 tons. Belgian coal production is proceeding at a satisfactory rate. Her small exports, however, are not a large factor in meeting the European situation. Great Britain has been the world's greatest exporter of coal both in the form of coal for bnnkerage and exports in the strict sense.

"British production, which in 1913 was 257.000.000 gross tons, decreased to 228,000,000 tons in 1018. Sir Auckland Geddes, President of the Board of Trade, states that for the twelve months heginning ICth July, 1010, when the miner's seven-hour day came into effect, iho production of British coal will be approximated between 214.000,000 and 217,005.000 tons. Even if the amount of coal retained for home consumption were kept down to 100,000.000 tons, the strictly rationed basis of IMS, there would be available for export only about 20.000,000 gross tons. Not only is the ability of Great Britain actually to produco coal for export and ship bunkers curtailed, but the price of coal Is now so high there as to open the field for all competition, and especially to competition from the United States.

"Although the foremost coal-producing nation, our exports of coal have never been large. In the five pre-war years, 100!) to 191.3, our exports averaged only about 16,000,000 tons, the greater part of which went to Canada. Whether in the immediate future wo are able to supply the coal which Great Britain cannot furnish will depend partly on o»» ability to increase bituminous, coal pro* duction, that being the kind primarily needed both for export and for ship bunkers. It will also depend on obtaining adequate tonnage." Whatever the outcome of the present situation, it seems inevitable, however, that in time the United States will assume in the coal export trade and in the business of bunkering ships (he position to which her coal resources entitle her."