The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-09-18
VOLUME XXxViI
COAL PROBLEM IS GETTING Sc.
RIOUS TO LOCAL PEOPLE.

In consequence of the failure of the
Government to fix the price of coal
at the mine, the dealers here are not
buying for the winter trade, and only
a few have any considerable stock
on hand Very few customers have
laid in their supplies for the winter,
and as consequence, there may be
some suffering should the weather
turn suddenly cold. OF course, those
who have fitted their homes with
natural gas need not worry.
One dealer is said to be seriously
considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of con-
serving the stock of coal he has on
hand for his own uses. The first
train of coal that has been in Paris
in the past two weeks went through
here Friday. The L. & N. is said to
have confiscated one hundred cars of
coal at different points along its
lines in this territory for its own
uses. There is not a car of coal on
the tracks in the Paris yeards.
1t is true that some of those who
can afford to do SO have been getting
their supplies of coal in carload lots,
but they are not always getting their
orders filled, the claim being made
that the cars cannot be secured to
ship it in. In addition to this the
strikes are on in the mining regions,
and many of the mines in the West
Virginia and Eastern and Southern
kentucky coal fields, from which the
local supply is mainly drawn, are
closed down, so that the outlook is
not very encouraging.
As an indication of the scarcity of
coal as a fuel it is told that one en-
gineer on the Louisville & Nashville,
who has been going out regularly had
his run curtailed so as to conserve
coal. There has been very little coal
in the yards, either for local or other
dealers. One dealer said he could
show letters from seven different
mines stating that it would be i'm
possible to fill orders for coal. From
present indications there is much
suffering ahead for those who have
not been able to provide themselves
with coal. should the winter be a
severe one and the situation remain
as it is at present.
Traffic on the interurban lines run
ming out Of Lexington was entirely
stopped for several hours yesterday,
due indirectly to the coal situation.
A supply of coal received at the big
power plant in Lexington proved to
be of such inferior quality that ii
would not make steam. AS conse-
ouence the power on several
hours. The trouble was over and the
cars running by noon.
That the coal shortage is already be-
ing felt in Paris was evidenced yes
terday by the statement made by one
of the largest coal dealers in the city
that he had not been able to pro-
cure a pound of coal from the mining
district where the strike is in pro-
gress. ut is almost impossible" he
said, Ito get supply Of coal for
love or money and the available sup
ply here is diminishing every day.
have never seen the coal situation in
Paris as bad as it is now, and the
prospect for its mending is extremely
gloomy"
Plans for taking care of the small
consumers coal needs this winter by
requisitioning so-called spot coal al
the mine and directing its sale
through local dealers at government
fixed prices were disclosed at Wash
ington by Dr. H. A. Garfield, the fue
administrator.
The first move under this arrange
ment. DR.. GARFIELD explained, will b'
to ascertain through State fuel al
ninistrators soon to be named TN
exact requirements of each stat
aboye the amounts that have beer
contracted for. These will be assem-
bled and the total supply requires
will be apportioned among the dlffer
ent mines. Operators will be requlr
ed to trim their contracts enough Z
enable them to supply the necessar
amount of spot coal. The amount O
probable deficiency in coal In eacl
State will be ascertained by stat
administrators through local commit
tees. which will also be charge
with distributing the coal when OF
tanned.