Evening journal., 1903-01-08
Reading Company VIII
Send 1t Here in Small
Lots to Put an End to
Suffering
Persistent Efforts of Of
ficiaIs Crowned With
Success at Last When
Case Seemed Hopeless

Clerk of Council William l. Hamann
recently wrote to George c. Coughlin,
sales agent Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, re-
questing that coal be sent to this city
to relieve the famine existing here, es-
pecially among the poor and needy Of
the city.
The desire of Mr.. Hamann was to get
coal here under any circumstances and
distribute it in half and quarter-ton lots
among those who were suffering most
for want of fuel His efforts met with
greater success than he anticipated,
and the following is a copy of the
communication which was received this
morning:
Philadelphia, January T. 1908.
William l.. Hamann, City Clerk, City
of Wilmington, Delaware.
Dear Sir: l acknowledge receipt of
your favor of January 5, in regard TO
coal which we understand you desire to
distribute in half and quarter-ton guam
titles to the extremely poor and needy
of your city, and as it is our desire to
assist in every way in the distribution
of coal to the class Of persons mention
ed by you, at all points we can reach
1t will afford us great pleasure to COM
mence the shipment of coal to you,
consigning same to the Mayor of Will
mington, for distribution to the poor.
VIII you. therefore, please advise me
whether you desire this coal sent in
care of any of the regular dealers in
Wilmington for distribution, ol
whether you desire that same shall be
consigned direct, as above, and you
take care of same on arrival.
We would like to know the size OF
coal you desire l suppose for the pur-
pose intended, nut coal would render
you the best service.
The price of this coal will be S3.7s
per gross ton, f. o. b. cars at the mines
and the rate Of freight from the mines
TO Wilmington is $1S5 per gross ton.
We will ship you one or two cars at G
time, and when these are disposed ot
in the manner suggested we will be
glad to receive your check for same
and we will then make another con.
signment to you of one or two cars. w,
understand the total quantity required
by you will be about 300 tons.
Trusting this will prove satisfactor,
to you, l remain.
Very respectfully,
George c. Coughlin,
c. & S. S. A.
1t has always been the custom of tn,
city to distribute coal among the mos
needy during hard winters, but OWNS
to the scarcity and extremely higl
price of fuel this year, it was impos
sible to get a supply.
History OF the Movement
City Council recently appointed
committee at the suggestion of Mayo
Fisher, composed Of Mayor Fisher
President of Council Blaine and Chair
man Of the Finance Committee Kane. [,
make an effort to obtain coal to reliev
the present situation These gentle
men went to Philadelphia to confe
with coal magnates, and many predict
ed that nothing would come of tn
visit. The Wilmington party wer
graciOusly received and informed tha
Wilmington would be considered wit
other cities and that everything pos
sible would be done to get a supply o
anthracite here. The letter sent by MI
Hamann argumented matters and as
consequence the serious question q
supplying the poor has been greatly re
lieved. Much credit is due Mayo
Fisher and Mr.. Hamann for their in
defatigable efforts toward relieving tn
famine now existing in this city.