The Washington times., 1902-12-14
Less Than Enough Fuei IN
Some Of the Buildings 10
Permit The Operation OF
Plants TJcenfy-tou1 Hours.
Many Houses Throughout
CHy VII Close Their Fur
naceS THIS Wmfer for
FIRST Time III HISfoIY-
Hospital for the Insane IN
Distress on SeUe5ai Occa-
sIonS-DealezS Unable 10
Deliver and Prices AdUaHce

A canvass OF the Government depart .
meuts yesterday afternoon developed the +
fact that some of them have on hand .
less than enough coal to keep the build .
ings heated and their plants in operation
for an entire day
Taking ,hc entire supply OF the Capt.
toI. the state. War, and Navy Buildings
and the other large Government work
shops and dividing 10 among the entire
aggregation pro rata. the aggregate
would barely keep the furnaces going for
three days and a half. The bins OF the
coal dealers are empty and the supply
on the rails is barely enough TO keep the
buildings going from day 10 day
The figures concerning the daily con-
sumption of coal in the various de-
partments and the amount on hand yes
terday afternoon. as given IN the accom-
panying table. were secured from the
officials in charge Of the several build
ings.
Economy Practiced.
In case Of snowstorm. which may
occur az any time. traffic on the rail-
roads would be Interrupted. shutting Oh
The soaI supply. and the Government Of
fees would have TO close if the inter
ruption continued for four days or more
II is probable that furnaces In this citl
viii have their fires eXtinguished mi
winter thar have never before been shu
down since the plants were installed. J.
IS only with the most rigid econom.
that the buildings are made habi lhl
from day 10 day.
The railway ana electric lighting com
panies hayo been more successful
y kseplng thrlf -bi& nlled. and from th
i present outlook there is little lkeh
hood that tney viii be compelled Z
shut down this winter. All the plant
of the Washington Railway and Eleetr
Company are well supplied. except Oh
main plant az Fourteenth and B stree
northwest. formerly the plant Of q
United states Electric Lighting Cor
pany.
strike has occurred in the mi
that had the contract for supplying II
plant and the officers OF the road ha
had 20 20 into the open market and b
coal Wherever they could find il, payi
largely increased prices for their fu
Tbe storage capacity at the plant
about 200 tons and probably one-thi
OF that amount OF coal is 10 the 0i
at the present time.
Hospital in Distress.
The Government Hospital tor the
sane was on several occasions in d
tress. The dealer who held the contr
for supplying anthracite coal has ADJ
doned it and no hard coal had O
received for several months fsi
good supply Of soft coal WAS on h
for a time. but a period Of twenty
DAYS without a shipment almost eNha'
ed The supply.
The bins OF the State. War and y
Building had nearly been empued "
,be last supply was received The
tons reported az on hand yesterday
cludod Cs tons that were received 30
dsy Al the Agricultural Department
only with The utmost diniculty hat
has beea secured, ana then The te
Of the department have had 10 he pr
Cd into service 10 assist in the haul
one or the departments was compe
TO Dsy 81 ton for lfty tons 5f bituI
ous coal Friday. ANA yesterday they 3
unable TO secure further supplies q
al that price. TO heat The house
tbe matinee yesterday one az the q
tcrs was compelled TO pay S. ten
Ter ztriving iu many directions 20 ae
the much needed fuel.
So Far as the local consumer Is
c.rncd. he situation has not been
serloue at any time. a visit 10 O. d
Of ihe most prominent dealers yestc
failed TO locate a single one Whu 81
undertake 10 deliver coal There la
an Indication that prices are sdvg
over the figures authorized By the D
inr COmUanT