The Washington times., 1902-09-25
ANTI-sMokE LAW IN FORCE
Claim Made That Expert Firemen Can
Avoid Giving Offense - Local Coal
Famine Becoming More Acute Daily
Gas Company Reaches Its Limit.

cumbed to the inevitable and issued
District authorities have not abrogated
the anti-smoke law, and insist that even
with bituminous coal careful firing will
keep the smoke nuisance in abeyance.
Meanwhile everyone, whether in official
or private life, is preparing for the use
of soft coal. wood. gas or oil as means
of heating through the winter.
The developments of yesterday en-
phasize the awkward points in the sit
uation. 1t was announced from the
headquarters Of the District Government
that splint coal would be used as far
rs possible.
Splint Coal Compromise.
Splint coal may properly be termed
compromise article. 1t is a semi-bitu-
minous coal. more brittle than anthra-
cite, but harder than bituminous. 1t is
coming into the market from the mines
Of Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania-not in great quantities,
but sufficiently to materially relieve the
stringency. The size of the Jumps is not
unifcrm and the coal comes in many
sizes. The small sizes are used in
kitchen ranges and small stoves and the
water and steam heat and power pur-
poses.
1t was announced yesterday that the
eleven fire engines Of the city would De
supplied with splint coal for use at fires.
The engine houses will also be supplied
with this coal. The men at the differ
ent: fire stations are being instructed in
the use of the new fuel. In self-feeding
apparatus the feeder chutes must be re-
moved and the coal fed in slowly.
On the Alert for Fires.
The officers of the Fire Department
are fully alive to the increased danger
from fires. 1t is anticipated that On the
first cold day large number OF devices
for giving heat will be tried, and that in
Some cases fire alarms will result.
Every sort of material for heating is
being installed in homes, and in many
cases by people ignorant of the right
way to handle such things. About one
third of the alarms in most cities re-
suit from the attempted use of coal oil
as fuel The health authorities will
keep lookout here for people who have
laid in large quantities OF the cruce
stuff against the rise in the price.
Major 7. E. True, of the Quartermas-
ter's Department, United States Army,
has taken cognizance of the strike con-
oition and has issued a circular stating
that 1t is impracticable for the depot
ouartermaster's Office to furnish further
supplies of anthracite coal. He gives
notice that bituminous coal will be sup
piled until the anthracite can be Sc
cured. Hard coal has been burned here
tofore in the furnaces of the War De-
partment and 1t is expected that de-
mand for heat will arise almost any
day The fremen are unused to firing
with soft coal, and the superintendent
of the building will have hard time for
a while II is likely that the engineers
and superintendents in every depart
ment will find the use of soft coal, coke
and other makeshifts necessity. None
of the Government buildings has any
considerable supply of coal on hand. 1t
has been semi -officiaily stated that all
acquisitions for fuel must specify BIZ
luminous coal
Gas Company Reaches Its Limit.
1t is understood that the Washington
Gas Light Company has about reached
fits limit of production. The pressure on
the gas mains is at the lowest notch
consistent with good service. The use of
gas stoves will be one of the features
of the winter. and these and the hun
dreds of gas logs which are being put
in the place of the hard coal CRATES will
keep the company busy. The latter are
regarded by the best posted authorities,
however, as wasteful and inefficient
The demand for oil aud wood stoves
continued yesterday. All dealers are
impressing upon their customers that the
oil stoves must be cleaned often TO avoid
danger and bad odors.
Hard wood continues bring s12 a
cord, and pine wood about i6
Hazardous Mine Work.
A statement made by the officers of
the Geological Survey regarding the ia
talitics in the mines of the United |
States is apropos considering the direct |
interest every citizen now has in the |
coal question. In eighteen States and |
Territories the number of lives lost in |
mine accidents was ], ,467. and the total |
number of men injured was 3,643. The |
total number of men employed in the /
coal mines of the United States in 1901 |
was 4s5,544 who made an average of |
PIG working days, as compared with |
44S.5s1 men, with an average OF 2l2 |
working days. In 1900. The distribution
of this labor in 1901 was as follows: In
the anthracite mines. 145,309 men, with
an average working time of 196 days; in
the bituminous mines, $40, 235 men, with
an average working time of 235 days.
In the State of Maryland the largest
tonnage for the loss of life is reported
The most fatalities are reported from
the Indian Territory. There are no re-
ports ffoH several States. and the num-
Der of children made fatherless by min
ing accident Is not given
Coal Sac Per Ton in New York.
Anthracite coal costs in the neighbor-
hood of q cent pound when bought in
small quantities. In New York a short
ton brings $40. rate expected here soon.
To cook an ordinary meal. under eco
nomical conditions. requires nearly If
teen pounds of coal This amount will |
go In an ordinary pail. In this city the
family Iaundresses are said to be aban-
doning their tubs, and ladies unused to