Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-15
MAY HAVE TO CLOSE UP
Post Office Department Coal
Supply Exhausted.
OTHERS ARE IN PERIL
ACTION TAKEN BY THE DISTRICT
: COMMISSIONERS.
Permit Granted for Temporary Tracks
for the Chesapeake and
Ohio Supply.

The supply OF coal at the Post Office De-
partment was exhausted at o'clock this
morning. The prompt loan by local dealer
Of two tons Of coal only prevented the ne
oessity of closing down the big machinery
by means Of which the building is lighted
and heated. This would have meant the
suspension of business in many of the Of
fees of the department Several times in
the last few weeks a similar condition ex-
listed, but each time enough coal was OBJ
tanned to tide over until a greater supply
could be got.
The engineer said this afternoon that a
car load Of coal consignAn to the Post Of
flee Department was on its way to the city.
The advisability Of shutting of the electric
lights and temporarily discontinuing the
elevator service Is being seriously consid-
cred.
For an hour this forenoon the machinery
used in the heating of the Interior De-
partment building was shut down for lack
of coal.
In Case of Blizzard.
If blizzard should be precipitated upon
this city it would be necessary for Congress
to adjourn. This fact is looked in the face
calmly by every one at the Capitol charged
with the task OF heating the great building.
There were at IL o'clock today but fifty
tons of coal In the Capitol, which Is exactly
two days supply. Coal Is being delivered
at the Capitol about as rapidly as 1t Is De-
ing consumed. or at the rate of twenty-five
tons a day. A contract with the Reading
railroad provides for keeping the Capitol
supplied with coal. and no fear is expressed
about keeping the big building warm ex-
cept in the event of a blizzard of sufficient
-eritx- to ell Col RanSdell. ser.
geant-at-arms of the Senate, was prompt IN
making an arrangement with the Reading
company for supplying the Capitol with
coal, but 1t has not been possible to secure
a great surplus within the city. Practically
the heating of the Capitol. is the case
with all the public buildings. depends upon
the daily arrivals of coal here during the
Christmas holidays, 1t may be possible to
decrease the amount of the daily consump-
ton of fuel SO that when Congress reas-
sembles January there will be supply on
hand greater than sufficient for two days
as at present.
Government Greatly Hampered.
Unless coal can be obtained In quantities
within the next twenty-four or forty-eight
hours the government will be greatly ham,
pered. There is not SUFFICIENT coal in the
vaults of many of the departments to heat
the buildings more than two days at the
most and some of them even less than that
period.
The famine, SO far as the buildings OF the
government are concerned, Is today more
serious than at any time since 1t began to
be felt.
MANY of the coal yards Of the city are
practically empty, and the supply received
today and on it's way is not sufficient ny
any means to meet the demand OF private
consumers.
Departments in Need.
The Senate has enough coal to keep the
heating apparatus and electric-lighting
plant going for few days. The house
stokers are burning cord wood in the fur
naces to provide heat and run the electric
lighting plant. Sergeant-at-arms RansdeH
has representatives in Philadelphia endeav-
oring to get supply of coal. Several times
he has had promises OF carload iots, put
they have not materialized.
The Agricultural Department the census
bureau and the Interior Department are;
perhaps, the worst off. Unless coal snail
he proyided at once for these important
branches Of the government work VIII nave
to be suspended until such time as they
can be properly heated
II Is estimated that II all the coal belong
ing to the government should be appor-
toned the supply would be enough only for
a few days.
with other cities a little farther north In
the throes Of snow and ice storm II is not
strange that a feeling of alarm and awe
permeates the souls of the people OF the
national capital.
shortage OF SOAI SO9As
Terminal Agent Legg Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad reported today that fifty
cars OF coal had been received from the
anthracite mines since Saturday and that
he expected fifteen or twenty more cafs
during the afternoon.
local coal offices were besieged today by
persons anxious to get fuel of any kind:
The suggestion OF snow made the demand
even greater than at any time, time ,i,n. q, ia,e sn.
swer being I'VE cannot look to the wants
of our regular customers, let alone those
who have not dealt with us
The scarcity OF soft coal is the suDJect OK
comment ON every hand. With all the btu.
minous mines working full or over time, 1t
is hard to understand why there shouio Dc
a shortage of supply In the city.
Commissioners to the Rescue.
The District Commissioners today took
step which may greatly relieve the coal
situation in Washington. 1t was represent
cd to the authorities that the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad Company has about 100
cars of anthracite and bituminous coal in
its yards near here, but has been unable 30
far to secure the trackage facilities neces-
sary for it's discharge to the local dealers.
If was said that it would be necessary to
secure the consent Of the Pennsylvania
railroad Company to handle the cars be-
fore a ton could be delivered here
The Commissioners were toio tiial - SaS
Chesapeake and Ohio Company could Sc
cure this extra trackage it would not only
discharge the 100 cars now in the District
limits but would deliver to Washington be-
tween thirty and forty cars a day hereafter
until the coal situation is materially re-
lieved.
Had Been an Embargo.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Company has
lately placed an embargo on all coal con-
signed to Washington. The agents of the
company said to the shippers that they
could not deliver the coal in Washington,
and therefore must refuse to haul 1t over
their lines.
When these representations were made to
the Commissioners today by a number of
citizens and others interested In the coal
matter they were told the Pennsylvania
must be consulted. The officials of that cor
poration were seen forthwith.
They promised to handle the Chesapeake
and Ohio coal provided the citizens would
secure q permit from the Commissioners
Tor the laying of number of temporary
tracks, such as Is done at inaugurations and
the occasions OF large conventions here The
oficials said they could not