Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04

to meet these conditions, which he said he
/ would take up with the company's agent in
| Washington, Mr.. Lownsbury, and see at
| once how far it could be made practicable.
After considerable discussion and careful
presentation OF the serious condition in
| washington, Mr.. Henderson said that from
now on the city would receive from the
company at least fifty tons of hard coal a
day. which would be increased to seventy
five tons day If it were found possible to
| spare the material. The committee urged
/ strongly the Importance of having at least
one hundred tons day, but the fifty tons
was all he would promise at present
But for the fact. as Mr. Henderson said,
that 1t was the rule not to decide on any
thing of the Importance of this matter
without comforting with the local agent.
the committee believes that it would have
i>been able to arrange for a supply of hard
coal for the poor recommended by the
board of charities at once.
Mr.. Henderson said in that connection
/ that the company always conferred with
the local agents. On behalf Of the Dis
trict Commissioners and the people of
Washington the committee expressed thanks
at the stand Mr.. Baer and the Philadelphia
and Reading company had taken In endeav-
oring to supply coal to the consumers at
such slight increase in the price
At the Pennsylvania Offices
The members of the committee were ac-
corded respectful hearing at the offices
of the Pennsylvania railroad. Mr. ]. G.
Searles. coal agent of the company. said
that the Pennsylvania was taking care Of
all the coal placed on its lines. He said
there was no discrimination against Wash
fng'ton and that his company was ready to
maui any cars that were consigned to this
city. He explained that the three coliieries
dominated by the Pennsylvania railroad
were, so far as Washington shipments
were concerned. in the hands Of ]. ]. Hills
& Co, Baltimore.
He said that the Pennsylvania did not at
tempt to ship except on the direction of
to know how that firm handled the coal
market. An effort was made to see Mr.. 1.
J. Wistar. one of the vice presidents of the
Pennsylvania railroad; to whom such mat
tiers are referred, but he was attending a
funeral.
Norton & Co. Need Cars.
C. D. Norton & Co. of Philadelphia were
also visited by the committee. This COM
pany gave assurance that it was ready to
ship coal to Washington as soon as cars
could be obtained 1t was explained by a
| member of the firm that nearly all the cars
| available were pressed into service for ship
ping coal to places north and to tidewater
in the vicinity Of Philadelphia.
only on certain days at present can we
get coal shipped to Washington he said
I'VE can send coal when we have the cars:
but there is limited supply of coal, owing
to the shortness of the output
Several other firms were visited by the
committee, who came away encouraged,
particularly over the talks with the Penn
sylvania company, the Reading company
and Merton & Co.
The committee found some complaint on
the part of coal men of Philadelphia in con-
| nection with the character of the cars OBJ
tainable, particularly the big cars Of the
Baltimore and Ohio. which are hard to load.
Some Of the mines are not equipped with
machinery for loading these cars, and to
equip mine with machinery would ne
cessitate an expenditure of from $4,000 to
$4,000
1t is expected a meeting Of the business
mems committee will be held tomorrow at
pm. when Mr.. Smiths committee will
submit its report. covering the visit to Phil
adelphla and Baltimore.
v. Baldwin Johnson's Reply.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Inclosed is a copy of the questions sub
mitted to me for answer by the committee
appointed by the District Commissioners
to INQUIRE into the prevailing scarcity of
coal in this city:
Are yoG a member of the Washington
Coal Exchange? -,-
Has any agreement been proposed by
anv coal railroad company with refer
ence to the supply of coal to be sold at a
fixed retail price?
Have you signed any such agreement
or schedule of prices with any coal or rail-
| road company?
What in your opinion, prevents the nor
NAL supply of coal in Washington at the
| present time?
Does any embargo exist, and if so. why,
! in YOUR opinion?
What is the retail price of coal at this
| time?
"Have YOU purcha sed coal since the re-
sumption of work in the coal regions from
| the Reading system? If SO, at what price
Have YOU been able to purchase coal
from the so-called Independent companies
If so. at what price? fl
Have YOU placed any order for coal in
quantities and what assurance have you
| been given as to the delivery of same?
t rs there any other information you de-
sire to give this committee regarding the
supply of coal?
'"Taese questions allude entirely, of
course to anthracite COAL"
My answer to the above questions was not
categorical but general. l would be glad
to have you publish it for the information
of the public and matter Of justice to
all parties concerned from the time the
| niner sticks his pick into the coal in the
ground until it reaches the cellar of the
consumer. My answer was:
THE only answer that l can give to the
above questions is that the mining COM
panies are mining coal as fast as they can.
the railroad companies are hauling as fast
as they can, every retail dealer Is deliver
Ing fast as he can get the coal, and
there Is no discrimination anywhere. The
impossible cannot be accomplished; and one
OF the impossible things is that the work
Of seven months can be done in one month.
Were 1 to write whole volume could not
give truer reason for the scarcity of coal
in Washington"
I Very truly yours,
" BALDWIN JOHNSON.
A Cooperative Company Proposed.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The one question of absorbing and uni