Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-11-05
WEBSTER GIVES
SMALL PROMISE
Of COAL Relief
Tells Manager G. ]. Long he Does not
Know Whether Dallas Company
Can be Held to Contract
With This City.
MUCH CONCERN OVER DELIVERY
County Attorney ]. E. Burnstedt Con.
Quoting Thorough Probe Of
Local Conditions.

The coal situation in Webster City
and the state of Iowa, as we'll as
elsewhere over the nation, is serious.
City Manager G. j. Long, who was
in Des Moines Thursday to find out
from Charles Webster, federal fuel
inspector for Iowa, whether the Dali
las Coal company Of Des Moines can
cancel its contract to furnish coal for
Webster City's municipal plant until
next April at $1.35 per ton, got very
little satisfaction. The, company
claims the right to cancel because of
recent government restrictions, which
it holds invalidates existing contracts.
Mr.. Webster told Mr.. Long very frank
ly that he does not know whether the
Dallas company can be held to its
contract or not. He will, however,
look it up and notify Manager Long
later. The Dallas company is asking
$295 for coal it contracted to deliver.
at $1.35.
Concern Over Delivery.
While the matter of price means
much to Webster City-especially the
likelihood that it may affect electric
rates-Manager Long is much more
concerned over continued delivery.
He has only about weeks supply
ahead. The Dallas company promises
to continue shipments, but whether
>this promise amounts to anything n
sphGlinQatical especlallx e We w
attempts to enforce the existing con-
tract. Continuous. shipments are vital
to the city, because If the municipal
plant were shut down for even one
day. 1t would work havoc all over the
city.
Local Fuel Board Active.
The local fuel board, which is work
ing in cooperation with Mr.. Webster,
is active. This board was originally
composed of County Attorney ]. E.
Burnstedt, r. b. Jones and A. J. From
ing. Mr.. ironing, however, is dis
qualified from acting owing to the fact
that he Is q coal dealer. Mr.. Burn
stedt has been carrying on a thorough
investigation of local conditions. He
knows the coal business from the
operators and miners end because,
as young man, he worked for years
about coal mines. His Investigations
here lead him to believe that many
things have contributed toward both
the shortage and the unusually high
prices. The operators are to blame
for the shortage and the price, of
course, is largely controlled by the
shortage, though the county attorney
is not inclined to wholly exempt local
dealers from some share in this con-
litiOn
Duties Of Local Board.
The duties of the local board are
two fold. They are to stand between
the local dealers and the public-to
see to 1t that the public is fairly
treated by retailers. They are also
to stand between the dealers and the
operators-to hear any complaints
dealers may have as to shipments.
price charged, carrying out of con-
tracts, etc. Mr.. Burnstedt invites
complaints, both from dealers and
from consumers, of any Irregularities
or unfair dealings. He is in receipt
of a letter from Fuel Administrator
Webster, in part as follows:
1t is our duty to see that peo-
pie do not suffer. My correspond
ence is SO heavy that it is impos-.
sible to carry it on except with
the chairman of the different |
committees in the several coun-
ties. hope you will explain this
to the dealers and consumers by
giving this letter wide publicity.
All complaints should be TAX
en- up with the local committees
and I will act upon their recon-
mendations as promptly as pos
sible. Dealers should file their
complaints, in writing, with the
local committee, and in case of
shortage state exact facts concise
ly, giving names of operators, of
jobbers from whom they have
coal purchased, the kind of coal
purchased, the kind Of coal and
when ordered.
1 will then recommend to the
Fuel Administration. at Washing
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