Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-11
TEAMS NEEDED
TO HAUL COAL
SCHOOLS BUY FUEL IN OPEN
MARKET
Officials Say They Will Charge Diff
ference in Price to Contractors
Who Have Failed to De-
liver Coal

"We'll keep on buying coal and coke
and everything else we can get in open
market till President Kellam takes a
tumble to himself and furnishes us the
fuel his contract calls for
Such is the way Superintendent of
School Buildings William Downie eX-
presses the boards attitude on the coal
situation in the public schools, and that
the school officials mean exactly what
they say is shown by the big purchase
of coke which they made Wednesday.
All day Wednesday the situation APP
peared very dark to the school board.
A report had come from Foreman Dow
ME that almost a score of schools were
burning their last fuel and would
surely have to close the next day if a
supply was not Immediately forth
coming.
But relief is in sight. DR.. Moore S
troubled countenance called forth an
inquiry from a friend of his, Lee Cham
berlain. who, when he heard the trou-
BILE, offered two carloads of coke which
he had in the city. Like a school boy
grasping at a holiday, the happy super
intendent seized his hand like a long
lost brother and told him to bring on
the coke. The two carloads of twenty
five tons each were at once optioned,
and another car which is to come was
also labeled for the schools"
Fuel Delivered
What made the situation more en-
joyable to the school officials was the
fat that Mr.. Chamberlain did not
confine himself to promises. Early
yesterday morning, to the delight of the
long worried school men, he put on four
teams and began delivering the prom
ised fuel. By noon thirty tons had been
distributed, furnishing all the schools
which were in the greatest want.
The Diamond Coal company, it is
feared has fallen from grace with the
school board. Mr.. Downie said last
night: I'VE tried hard to get the coal
from the Diamond Coal company but
couldn't. They had several cars stand
ing in the yards, and Tuesday night
Mr.. Kellam promised me they would
put on two or three wagons to keep us
going, but instead they put on one.
Tuesday they delivered two tons,
Wednesday about six and I don't know
how much today. Well buy anything
we can get and charge up the difference
between what we pay and our contract
price with the Diamond Coal company
TO Mr.. kellam.
DIX OF seven years ago lut SdIlt
thing happened. and we bought the
coal in open market The Diamond
company lost about 500 that time.
Dealers Refuse Schools
1--WE might have got some coal from
other dealers if they had been willing
to sell to us, but they didn't want 10
interfere. 1 called up Clark Bros. and
they told me that they had coal but
H.. l., Il
contract with the Diamond company
The schools are we'll supplied with
wood. Clark brothers held the con-
tract for that and very early in the
season before wood was scarce put in
all the schools needed
AT the Los Angeles high school the
heavy rains we'll nigh drowned out the
engines, and although there is plenty OF
fuel they could not run and school had
to be dismissed yesterday.
IT'S up to the weather man and the
railroads." is the way General Man
ager Lawrence of the American Fue
company sizes up the situation. a
great many people who have beer
reading of the end of the fuel famine
tried yesterday to get coal and couid
not To these good people the report;
of plenty of fuel seemed farcial, but in
spite of disbelievers there is coal in tbs
city and plenty of it.
Teams Are Needed
The need now is for teams to haul the
precious Jumps. The Wretched, mrS
condition of the roads makes them al.
most impossible in many parts of the
city and i'm some districts the com
panies refuse absolutely to deliver. II
the rain ceases the roads will speedily
dry up and become at least fOrdable
The indications last night pointed tC
better weather, so it seems as if tht
weather man will do his share tC
remedy the situation.
The coal dealers are having some
trouble in that they cannot find mer
10 sack the coal. Many Of the express.
men refuse to handle loose coal, all OF
which makes the situation more diff
cult for the consumer.
The railroad company is doing it;
share as best it can. Washouts de-
layed the trains for several hours
Wednesday, but the tracks have beer
repaired and the schedules are once
more being observed, Eight carloads
of coal came into the city at midnight
Wednesday, and several more are ex,
pected today. Mr.. Lawrence said last
night that there are eighty carloads on
the way between Los Angeles and the
mines, and by the end of the week there
will be hundred.
There is very little wood in sight as
the roads leading from the timber dis,
trcts have been i'm such bad shape tho
teams could not come in, AS a result
dealers are charging eXorbitant prices
for green gum wood, while grocers ar,
selling all their boxes to fuel-hungry
customers.
The expressmcn are continuing tC
charge double prices for hauling coal
/ Al several of the coal companies Of
| fees orders We're taken for fuel, pro
yded the purchaser got It himself, an(
| il is from such customers as these tina
! tho teamsters are taking the money