The sun., 1902-11-23
COAL FAMINE IN WASHINGTON.
IFA COLD SNAP COMES CONGRESS-
MEN WILL SUFFER.
Oncess OF the Administration Arc Pretty
We'll Supplied. but Very Few OF the
800, 900 Residents Have Any Coal on
HAnd-The Price Is $40 Ton and Up.


WARRINGTON, Nov 22.-Very little anthra-
site coal has come into Washington since last
sprinp. and but for a kindly Providence
the capital would be suffering great dis
trsss. Tho local coal dealers do not seem
70 know why they cannot get coal, but they
arc inclined to think that the operators
and railroad companies regard this as
Southern city, where coal for fuel has not
vat been needed. II a cold snap comes.
there will be great distress. as the vast
majority OF the coal bins in the District OF
Columbia are empty.
few DAYS after work was resumed In
the anthracite mines the local coal dealers
autered into all agreement to furnish coai
at S7. so q ton until normal conditions should
be reached. Now. however, they have felt
compelled to break that agreement, and
noal has gone up to about SO ton to those
vho can get it, Some of the public insti-
tutions. Federal and municipal, have been
able 10 get small supply of coal in response
20 arguments based on the needs OF the
publio service, and few dealers who were
10 fortunate as to have supplies on hand
vben the II rike came are doing out 10
their customers at any price they have
The nerve to charge for II.
Hemporary needs by various methods OF
6ayoritism so well known to, those VINO
kaye a pull with various public officials.
The officers of the Administration seem
10 be pretty well supplied, some OF them
6lunn ip their cellars from the supply on
hand IN the various depart ments, and in
one way or another the really serious phase
of the situation has been kept In the back
around. 1t IL known now to De iac'
however, that comparatively rev OF the
800 600 citizens OF the dlstrlct nave an.
coal. and II coal shipments 10 Washington
Are not soon resumed, the statesmen may
eufer after Congress meets III DeCeinber'
There IL quite a supply of coal at the House
end Of the capitol but AT the senate emu
there IL only enough for very few days,
Elliot Woods. the superintendent oi the
Capitol Building, last summer PROVIDED
A. ne thought successfully. against the coal
famine which Ire saw ahead OF him. h.,
Rad the huge boilers in the basement OF
the Capitol lifted up for burning OIL ahd
when this " ork was completed he sat mac
and spilled TO think how INDEPENDENT ne
was OF the coal dealers and how he could
heat the big marble building whether they
gave him any coal or not. But ~heh ne
went to buy the oil he found that none
could be bought III the markets where
anthracite coal is used at less than ~ ~
\ barrel, which is about three times It's
regular price, making II about as eApeh-
sive az coal at Si2 50 ton, and even al that
price there was some uouDl "heihei ,ic
could buy sufficient quantity TO run the
huge boilers that heat the Capitol building
The officers of the Senate and House oi
Representatives and the superintendent
Of the building have put their heads to-
pether in an eudeayor TO tind some way
10 get coal, but so far they have not sue
ceeded.
Tonight the Weather Bureau predicts
that the unusually long spell Of Indian
summer which has prevailed here Ia TO bf
broken by rain and a falling ther mometer
and II these predictions turn out TO he cor,
rect, the citizens of Washington viii hnd
themselves in very serious predicament