Coal Age

AUG 2012

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1940-1949 The 1940s: Coal Provides the Fuel for World War II & the Cold War 1940-1949 hen Japanese bombs rained down on Pearl Harbor that fateful Sunday, December 7, morning, America was surprised but not unprepared. Fierce fight- ing had been raging throughout Europe beginning in September 1939. Though offi- cially neutral, America began supplying weapons, ships, tanks and raw materials to England and France. The Depression-era New Deal policies that had organized and controlled virtually the entire American economy were incredibly helpful in gear- ing up manufacturers, coal miners and the general public for the all-out war effort that was ahead. W But as the new decade began, America was still dealing with the Depression. Producer health was weak and economic recovery was still slow and somewhat fragile. Though coal production was increasing and new mines were opening, labor's much increased power and government regulation had altered the mining dynamic. Until after World War II, coal producers and manage- ment were often relegated to a minority voice in decision making as Roosevelt administra- tors and officials from John L. Lewis' United Mine Workers increasingly called the shots. Coal and War 1940-1945 When the decade began, Coal Age Editor Sydney Hale lamented—in a newly stream- lined typeface—that though the U.S. was the largest coal producer worldwide and the global leader in using mobile loaders under- ground, Great Britain "with a distinct and wide edge" was still far ahead in mechaniza- tion, producing more than 54% of their total output in 1939 via machine. Even though U.S. mines were healthier than they were the year before, mechanization was still the key to success. "In a year marked by an increase in industrial activity on the one hand, warmer-than normal weather on the other, a twelve-months-long struggle by federal agencies to establish minimum prices and marketing regulations and a six-weeks stop- 78 www.coalage.com page of work in the Appalachian region, the bituminous industry finally came through with a 12.6 percent increase in output." Troubled anthracite, seemingly on the ropes following the collapse of the venerable Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. and widespread red ink, also finished the previ- ous decade with a 10.2% production gain year-over-year, finishing at just under 51 million tons. Though coal was definitely on the rebound, oil, natural gas and other fuel options were becoming increasingly favored. A growing smoke-abatement move- ment throughout U.S. cities was leading to crackdowns on domestic and industrial coal burning and non-coal fired electrification projects like the new TVA—initially envi- sioned as mostly hydro-powered—were increasing throughout the nation. Only oil rationing during the war would really stem the inroads of that popular fuel—and then, only temporarily. Fuel-oil rationing in 30 states was first reported by the magazine in October 1942, and reports at the time indi- cated rationing would spread nationwide as more oil would be diverted into the war effort. Into this void: more coal. Production continued to increase in 1940 to 512 million tons (combined between anthracite and bituminous). In 1941, with U.S. industries already humming with defense preparation orders, produc- tion rose to more than 570 million tons, the highest total since the beginning of the Depression in 1929. Following Pearl Harbor, the U.S. threw itself into an all-out war effort. The question became not what coal had produced, but what was it capable of extracting as experts realized that a greatly increased amount of production would be essential to victory. Publisher McGraw-Hill, in the January 1942 issue, tasked readers with asking them- selves "What can I do?" to help. "A BIG JOB [sic] is what it adds up to, but the industry can do it," seconded Hale. "Sharing in this 100th Anniversary Special Issue confidence, Coal Age also accepts the responsibility of all out service to the indus- try in carrying out its part of the war effort and planning for the post-war future," he wrote in the January editorial. With a long war looming, Hale, in his February 1942 editorial "Peace and War," chose to reflect on the industry's overall position. "With 1941 the last year of peace for the United States until victory is achieved, the coal industry can look back to improvements and modernization which give it a good start on the job ahead. Signing of new wage agreements, rising demand and price stabilization cleared the way for accel- erated adoption of the modern equipment and practices for the production, prepara- tion and safety so necessary for progress in peace and even more vital in winning the war as soon as possible." But going forward the industry still faced several pressing needs: stable manpower, a steady flow of machines and mining materi- als, a stronger maintenance plan and improvements in the transportation of coal to market. To assist, the federal government granted coal producers priority over many industries to purchase and receive the machines and tools needed for the produc- tion surge. Coal miners, like most Americans, were quick to enlist—so quick that draft boards were asked not to take experienced miners away from the homefront. To combat the labor shortage, the UMWA agreed to change the mandated 35-hour 5-day work-week to a 6-day 42-hour week. But with the war raging in Europe and the Pacific, Hale also was fighting his own battles—a losing one against terminal can- cer. His death was marked with a tender obituary in the September 1942 issue. By all accounts a witty, urbane and widely read man, Hale was "every inch an editor, once he set himself to a task, however large and onerous, no reading was too dull and no effort too great to attain his purpose." With August 2012

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