Reports of a coal shortage in Shanghai yesterday morning were denied by the S.MC. authorities when questioned on the subject yesterday by the "North-China Daily News" Most of Shanghai's supply of coal it was pointed out, came from Chapei, Nantao and Pootung. "Whereas supplies in Chapei and Nantao had been depleted, there was still plenty of coal in Pootung, the amount stored there on October 13 having been just short of 300,000 tons.
During the past few weeks, " the coal situation has definitely improved, and considerable quantities have been coming in from outside sources. The needs of the public utility companies have been amply met, and no concern is felt by them with regard to a possible shortage of coal. Shanghai manufacturing concerns using large quantics of coal also have adequate supplies, reserve stocks having been laid in. As these firms are not working at anything like full pressure, owing to local hostilities, their supply of coal is ample for their present needs. The Kailan Mining Administration have been bringing regular supplies of coal into Shanghai, about 1,500 tons having been unloaded here during the past week alone. The K.M.A. have facilities for unloading their coal on The Bund.
Pootung stocks have increased during the past month, and at present there is a movement on the part of the Chinese Control Committee to transport these stocks over the river. A coal dump has been established in the French Concession, a second, under the auspices of the S.M.C., on Hankow Road, and a third is being prepared on the Bund for use by the K.M.A. in unloading their coal. In spite of the difficulties experienced in bringing coal into Shanghai, there has been no very great increase in prices. It is also satisfactory to note that there has been very little profiteering on the part of coal dealers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.