Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
A COAL MANS ADVICE
=. BALDWIN JOHNSON GAVE
WARNING OF FAMINE
Innovations in the Fuel Business Made
by Him That Have Bene-
Ated Customers.

There have been many firms engaged In
the coal. wood and coke trade Of the city,
but 1t has remained for Mr.. v. Baldwin
Johnson to make some Innovations in the
manner Of conducting business to the ad-
vantage of consumers which have been
largely appreciated.
At the time Mr.. Johnson entered the coal
business Gin 1889 the only visible shedding
for fuel appurtenant to each of the many
coal establishments Of the city consisted
only of few square yards Of rough roof
Ing, designed and used almost exclusively
for sheltering kindling wood. The idea OF
keeping the articles coal and coke under
cover, and in large quantities, originated In
this city with Mr. Johnson, and its rapid
development has been due to and success
fully pioneered by him. Twenty years ago
the Washington consumer knew little, If
anything, OF the advantages OF dry coal
over wet coal, and a request by consumer
FOR dry coal was regarded by the average
dealer OF that day more in the light or a
cranky" whim than of a sensible and just
request OF that day the same statement Is
almost equally true Of thoroughly screened,
clean coal. Since that time, however, Mr..
Johnson has SO persstently advertised and
emphasized the great advantages Of dry
coal" clean COAL and coal of the best
quality" and the people have come SO thor
oughly to recognize and demand these ad-
NduldStS, tUdl all the nlOSL enter Sodi
merchants of the city are today publishing
them as essential features Of their system.
In the early months of this summer 1t
became apparent to Mr.. Johnson that the
great anthracite coal strike, then prevail
ing, would be of such long duration that
there would necessarily be great difficulty
in getting this kind of coal, even after the
strike ended, and that the usual autumn
demand would certainly create a coal
famine and demoralize prices. According
ly, desiring to serve his patrons to the best
OF his ability by giving them the beneht
Of his judgment of the situation, he ad-
viSed them through the medium of the
special notices in The Evening Star as
follows:
Notice No. ], May 90
IAN customers desiring to get the benefit
Of present prices should take the matter up
with me at once. Main office 11O1 Rhode
Island avenue northwest. Phone, Main
1881.
Notice No. 2, June 20.
'All customers prepared to take in or pay
for their coal now are advised to do So My
prices will certainly not be lower, and are
subject to advance from day to day.
Notice No. 3, June 80.
Customers are earnestly admonished to
lay in their coal. Owing to the tremendous
demand. coal will be difficult to get at any
price-even after strike is over.
Notice No. 4, August 8.
IF | were a consumer and could get my
coal at the present prices, 1 should lose
ne time in doing so. My customers will
please take notice-A word to the wise is
sufficient Furnace coal, $3.50; egg furnace,
s6.75; w. A, stove 1913.
Notice No. 5, September O.
During May, June, July and August I
earnestly admonished my customers to lay
in coal Nearly all Of them did so, and,
with but few exceptions, got the low ante
famine prices. With equal earnestness, al
though the price Is now much higher, I ad-
wise each of my customers using furnace
coal to lay in at least one or two tons at
hn h0ST yrin "a on cot tne.ln f,.c,,
me or from any other dealer. This precau-
ton viii bridge over the famine and may
save physicians bills and sickness"
Hundreds of his patrons followed his ad-
vice and filed their bins. Subsequent facts
have abundantly proven the wisdom of Mr.
Johnson's advice.
Mr.. Johnson is the only coal dealer in
Washington who, through public advertise
ment, advised his customers to take in their
coal before the prices should become de-
moralized