St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-09-19

ton in Vermont as regards coal .and |
other kinds OF. fuel. is SO serious THAI |
the Vermont coal com mittee appointed
by Governor Graham and composed
of Hugh J. H. Jones, of this city; F.
H Brooks of St. .Johnsbury; and New
man e. Chaffee of Rutland, are calling
on the retail coal dealers of Vermont
forx.exact information regarding the
amount of coal noWson hand, the de-
fciency which exists between THAI
amount and the reasonable demand
that must be supplied if suffering this
winter is to be prevented. Represen-
tative coal dealers have pledged their
support to the Vermont committee and
are urging other dealers, who did not
attend the Burlington meeting this
week to do likewise and furnish the
necessary information.
If the Vermont committee is pos
sessed of exact information there is
a possibility that one or more solid
coal trains may be sent into Vermont
to relieve the shortage and the mem
bers of the committee will urge that
such action be taken. Unless some
thing favorable develops the situa-
ton must be set down as very serious
in most communities in the state.
There are few places where the sit
uation is decidedly better than in the
average communities, such as Brattle-
boro, Rutland and Burlington, where
the supply of anthracite is considered
by retail dealers to be fair, but fur
Their shipments are necessary even in
these places. Soft coal requirements
can not be met as rule.
st. Johnsbury is in a serious plight,
according to representations made to
the Vermont coal committee at the
Burlington meeting, most houses, the
schools and even hospital crying for
coal which can not be furnished. In
st. Adams there is serious shortage,
and where in former years the bins
in many houses were filled at this
time, many of them are now empty.
Swanton and Enosburg Falls submit
ted a similar report. Montpelier deal
ers face the future with great concern
and report that the present supply
falls far short of ordinary require
ments. Springfield is also very short,
LESS than the usual amount of coal be-
ing on hand in a community that has
enjoyed a boom which has resulted in
an increase in population and a cor
responding increase in the demand.
Newport also needs coal, and needs it
badly
With the exception of Brattleboro,
Rutland and Burlington, where more
coal is needed but the present supply
being fair, the reports of the retail
dealers to the Vrmont coal committe
showed that the stocks now on hand
in most of the Vermont communities
vary from 5 to so per cent of the GUS
tomary stock. Wood is also almost
impossible to obtain, SO that the out
look of reliefsf from that source is very
poor The reasons set forth by Hugh
J. M. Jones, who, as chairman Of the
Vermont coal committee is a member
of the New England executive com
mittee and has been in conference
with federal officials, including Prsi-
dent Wilson, as accounting for the
shortage are: War has taken coast
wise shipping from the coal trade
throwing the added burden on. the
railroads at a time when they are un-
der great war strain: the sending to
the northwestern it's coal supply before
navigation on the Great Lakes is
closed by winter; and the selling of
much coal to Canada, which has now
been stopped. 3ae
The Vermont coal committee hopes
that it may be able to secure the ship
ment direct into Vermont of solid
coal trains, and it is to impress on
the federal authorities the necessity
of doing this that the retail dealers
have been appealed to to furnish the
necessary figures. The retail dealers
gathered at Burlington pledged their
loyal cooperation and promised to take
every step to supply the trades quickly
as possible. Retail dealers intimated
they could not receive large orders
and that it would be useless for custo-
r,,ors To. att en- Mt to stock IN