Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-29
Will Try to Handle Coal
During Encampment.
MATTER OF MOMEN T
WITHOUT COOPERATION THE
CITY MIGHT SUFFER.
An Interesting Caravan in Sereet-
All Fuel Still Up in
Price.

The question as to the inability OF the
railroads entering Washington to handle
freight and particularly coat. during the
encampment OF the Grand Army next week.
was brought to the attention OF Commas
sioner mcfarland this morning by MI J.
Maury Dove. president Of the ]. Maury
Dove Coal Company. 1t WAS stated that
coal famine was being avoided In the Dis
trict principally through the daily receipt
by the merchants of small consignments OF
various kinds OF fuel, principally soft coal
and coke. If these shipments were sus-
pended during the week of the encamp-
ment, Mr.. Dove thought the situation would
be quite a serious one.
Commissioner Macfarland at once secured
communication with the officials OF the
Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania rail-
roads and was assured by them that the
roads would do all In their power TO hanoIe
some coal during G. A. r. week Ii was
stated by the agents that len years ag },
during the 70, mer encamp nent, not pound
of fire. light could be delivered in washington
on account of the great passenger tralhc.
Mr. MaCfarland was tod. however. lhat
the roads are making arrangements 10 en-
deavor to handle perishablc freight, ana IN
this connection would try to get through
anv coal consigned to local merchants. In"
railroad officials said the coal merchants
would better use their utmost endeaVors'
however. to secure as much coal as possible
during the present week 10 tide over any
emergencies which might arise next week.
From Railroad Superintendents.
Mr.. Dove forwarded to the Commissioner
a copv Of a letter sent by him to the sup
erintendents of the two railroads mentioned
above. asking them to try TO deliver coal
during the encampment. Addressing Mr..
Mcfarland Mr.. Dove said
IL ask YOUR cooperation in this matter.
If the order to suspend the delivery of coal
to this CITY from October 4 to II goes into
effect our citv during the Grand Army en-
campment will be absolutely paralyzed. 1t
would be calamity. Hotels, public insti-
buttons and residences will be absolutely
wit bout fuel. The situation Is extremely
grave. / beg YOU to use your influence to
have the embargo, as far as fuel Is con-
cerned. suspended
Mr.. Doves letter to the superintendent
OF freight of the two railroads is asfollows:
Railroads Implored.
81 have just learned through outside in
formation that 1t is the intention Of the
Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania rail-
roads to discontinue the delivery OF all
kinds of freight In the District of Columbia
from October to October 10. If such be
the purpose. l earnestly implore that the
deliveries of coal be not disturbed in any
way.
eve are now receiving our supplies daily.
Owing to the inability of securing anthra-
cite. and of the railroads to deliver soft
coal and coke promptly, If this supply Is cut
of. our city will be simply paralyzed We
cannot get enough coal In stock to tide
over this period, and l hope, for the in
terests of our entire city. that you will not
enforce this order to the delivery OF
fuel. Ny appeal to you Is not selfish one,
as yuu can readily find out by inquiry
1t was upon receipt of these letters that
Commissioner Mcfarland communicated
with the railroad companies. with the re-
suit as stated above.
An Interesting Caravan.
Three carts, each carrying a few bushels
OF anthracite coal. Were driven down f
street this forenoon Pedestrians stopped
to witness the unusual sight and prop-ie-
tors Of stores along the way mingled with
their employees as they looked with envious
eyes at the strange caravan. The drivers
of the carts could not be induced to tell
the names of the consignees. 1t the
first real excitement in a downtown thor
oughfare for several weeks. circus
parade could not have produced more gen
uine interest.
The present available supply In Wash
ington of anthracite product is believed to
be below thousand tons. There are a
coal in the early summer and paid the
money for ii. getting receipts therefor, who
are receiving supply, and then in homeo-
pathic doses
have supply are dealing it out in the
smallest amounts that might seem respect
able.
His Offer Refused
The proprietor of an F street cafe who
uses a large amount of coal weekly said
today that on Saturday he offered his deal
er $50 for four tons of anthracite The
dealer informed him that he would not
think Of accepting the Offer adding that tina
cafe proprietor would be glad within the
next TWO weeks to pay $50 a ton for the
same product. An agreement was made
whereby si3 was paid for two tons and this
o. was delivered this morning
From every part OF the District of Column
bia comes the information that anthracite
coal is next to impossible to get in any
quantity. The poorer classes are of course
the first TO suffer. A business man VINO to-
uay was fortunate enough TO purchase ton
OF hard coal because OF his contract with
his dealer said that his heart was touched
10 see an aged woman. who makes her liv-
Ing by washing and ironing, pay 10 cents
for small basket of coal
This woman paid great deal moro in
proportion than L did, the business ma n
said My heart went out for her. She
seemed pleased TO get only the small
as she trudged on toward her home"
APo3 SAiShI 0OuSco anu Fl6IS.
Apartment houses and fats where occu
pants have contracts for heating are placed
in an embarrassing position. Every bit of
soft coal and wood that has been brought
to the city and offered for sale has been
gobbled up as quickly as possible
The greater amount OF soft coal that Is
now In the market or has been delivered in
the last few days has come from the Cum
Derland district. The price today ranged
from - 10 ~ ton. Instances we're hea I'd
OF where SJo Il ton was paid but II wa a
where the coal was required for Immediate
delivery.
Really pitiful II Is to stand about the Of
nces or the coal dealers OF the CITY and
watch the interest manifested by those In
quest of coal Men OF wealth minRie with
those less fortunate In the possession of
this worlds goods. Everybody wants fuel
The demand for OIL gasoline and gas an
piiances was greater today than at any
time since the strike began. There Is no
longer any talk of importing coal from
Wales The dealers seen today were of the
opinion that the coal from Wales Is little
above the standard of the bituminous pro-
duct here.
Ambassador Mccormick Here.