Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-14
COAL FOR THE DISTRICT
NO CONTRACT COULD BE MADE
BY COMMISSIONERS.
Amount in Urgent Deficiency Bill
Special Needs of the Fire
Department.

The urgent deficiency bill passed by the
House yesterday carrying with 1t an appro-
priation Of So, 500 for the purchase of coal
for the District government was the result
of an appeal from the Commissioners for
replenishment of the fuel fund provided at
the beginning of the current fiscal year. The
sum of $4,000 was needed by the fire de-
partment $1,000 by the police department,
and $45 600 by the public schools, the latter
amount being equal to the sum first appro-
priated for the whole of the year.
No Contract Could Be Made.
At the beginning of the present fiscal year
the Commissioners endeavored to make a
contract for coal as had been the custom in
previous years. Owing to the conditions at
the mines no dealer was willing to enter
into contract which guaranteed a coal
supply to the District throughout the win
ter. The Commissioners had to resort to
the purchase of whatever fuel they could
get hold of in the open market. The au-
thorities have suffered with the people in
regard to the high prices They have bought
the fuel in small lots wherever they could
secure it. They were compelled to pay $40
a ton for anthracite coal and IS for soft
coal. The District schools and other insti-
tutions annually burn many thousand tons
Of coal The only fuel the Commissioners
have been enabled to secure at anything
like regular market prices has been 1000
tons from the Reading company, all Of
which has not been delivered as yet. Even
this coal was bought at figure in excess
of the price contemplated when the appro-
priations were made.
For the remainder Of the year the Com
mssioners must continue to purchase coal
IN the open market and at whatever figures
they are able to secure from the dealers. If
Inc current prices continue it is doubtful If
the deficiency appropriations asked for to-
day VIII be sufficient to last throughout the
cold Gather.
The Commissioners continue to receive
small shipments of Reading coal daily This
supply Is exclusively for the public schools
Under recent contract they have also re-
ceived about 900 tons of soft coal for the
schools and about 400 tons of coke The
dealer agreed to furnish 1000 tons of both
soft coal and coke. He is behind somewhat
in the coke shipments, but promises to
make them up shortly.
For the Fire Department.
In forwarding his estimate Of the def
cheney In the fuel appropriation for the fire
department R. W. Dutton, the chief engi-
neer, also calls attention to deficiency in
the forage appropriation, brought about by
the high price Of feed. In addition to the
$500 for coal he asks $4,000 for forage.
These deficiencies" he says, ARE made
necessary by reason of the increase in
prices during the present fiscal year of both
fuel and forage. The department has, it is
peheved' prevented larger deficiency in
the appropriation for fuel by the purchase
last fall of 12S tons Of splint coal at $3.50
ton. This grade of coal is ordinarily used
only to run the steamers of the department.
put, until severe cold weather set in, it was
USED for both that purpose and heating the
quarters occupied by the various companies
of the department.
Last year it cost the department SIR
IoN,oo 10 Ieeo and bed Its 151 horses, an
average of 81, 6O7 a month % 3-25 cents
a day for each horse This year because
OF the very marked advance in the price of
forage, 1t has cost the department $40 739 40
70 Leu ana pea Its horses, this amount in
Guiding the forage for January, 1903 This
Is at the rate of 81, 567 &c a month. or an.
average of 80 1-3 cents a day for each.
morse an increase of a little more than S
cents gay Tor each animal. Neither the
amount of feed nor of bedding allowed each
morse has been increased this wear the al
!oWance being that recommended by the
District veterinarian, twelve pounds each
OF oats, hay and straw to each animal
During the fiscal year ended June 20
l9O2, Congress provided this department
with $1,000 Including a deficiency appro-
pr1atlon Of 5000, for it's contingent ex-
Pei,Ses, ana gave 1t this year but $4,000.
with this years appropriation the depart
ment Will. II nothing unforeseen occurs he
barely able to provide for its contingent ex-
penses, although nothing has been or will
~ PNi sioSet unnecessary lOr the malnten-
ance OF the department. In this connection
l would respectfully invite attention to the
fact that, while every other appropriation
LOT this department has been increased
from year to year proportonately with it's
growth, the appropriation for its contingent
expenses, than which there is no more
necessary or important appropriation. has
not kept pace with it's growth.
Believing that there should he nroy,;dad
FOR the contingent expenses of the DEPART
ment during the current fiscal year NOT less
IMAM $1,000 additional. I respectfully ask
that that amount be taken from this years
Appropriation for hose and placed to the
credit of the appropriation for contingent
expenses. The department has TO-DAY a
balance of $4246 unexpended for hose, and
oeoucung the sum OF $1.Oo0 from that,
would give the department So 246 for The
purchase of hose during the remainder Of
this fscal year, an amount believed to be