Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-20
SITUATION
SERIOUS IN Vt.
Only Is to 50 per Cent. of Gus.
tomary Stock In Most
Communities.

Montpelier, Sept. 16.-The situation In
Vermont as regards coal and other kinds
of fuel is 30 serious that the ermon
coal committee appointed by Governor
Graham and composed of Hugh j. NJ.
Jones Of this city, F.. H. Brooks Of st.
Johnsbury. and Newman X. Chafee Of
Rutland, are calling on the retail coal
dealers Of Vermont for exact information
regarding the amount Of coal now on hand
and the deficiency which exists between
that amount and the reasonable demand
that must be supplied II suffering this
winter is to be prevented. Representa-
tive coal dealers have pledged their sup
port 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 infor-
nation.
II the Vermont committee is possessed
OF exact information. there is a POSSIBLE
ity that one or more solid coal trains
may be sent into Vermont to relieve the
shortage. and the members of the commit
tee will urge that such action be taken.
Unless something favorable develops the
situation must be set down as very seri-
Gus In most communities in the State.
There are a few places where the situa-
ton is decidedly better than in the aver
age communities, such as Brattleboro,
Rutland and Burlington, where the supply
Of anthracite Is considered by retail deal
ers to be fair, but further shipments are
necessary even. in these places. Soft coal
requirements can not be met as a rule.
st. Johnsbury is in a serious plight, ac-
cording to representations made to the
Vermont coal committee at the Burling-
ton meeting; most houses. the schools
and even a hospital are crying for coal
which cannot be furnished. In st. Adams
there is a serious shortage, and where In
former years the bins in many houses are
filled at this time. many Of them are
now empty. Swanton and Enosburg Falls
submitted a similar report. Montpelier
dealers face the future with great concern
and report that the present supply falls
far short of ordinary requirements.
Springfield is also very short, less thar
the usual amount Of coal being on hand
In a community that has enjoyed a boom
which has resulted In an increase in popu-
lation and a corresponding increase in
the demand Newport also needs coal,
and needs It badly.
With the exception Of Brattleboro. Rut-
ladn and Burlington. where more coal is
needed but the present supply is fair, the
reports Of the retail dealefs to the ver-
mont coal committee showed that the
TWINS "" VII udIlu III mOSt Oh the YER
mont communities vary from Is to so per
cent. OF the customary stock. Wood is
almost impossible to obtain, 80 that the
outlook Of relief from that source is very
poor. The reasons set forth by Hugh J.
M. Jones. who. as chairman of the Yer
mont coal committee is a member Of the
New England executive committee and
has been In conference with federal Off.
Gals. including President Wilson, as &C.
counting for the shortage are: wal work
mas taken coastwise shipping from the
coal trade. throwing the added burden
on the railroads at a time when they are
under great war strain: the sending to the
Northwest of its coal supply before navi
CATION on the Great Lakes is closed b,
winter. and the selling of much coal t
Canada. which has now been stopped.
The Vermont coal committee hopes tina
1t may be able to secure the shipment di
rect into Vermont Of solid coal trains, an.
1t Is to impress on the federal authorize.
the necessity of doing this that the re
tail dealers nave been appealed to to fur
nish the necessary figures. The retail
dealers gathered at Burlington pledged
their loyal cooperation and promised I,
take every step to supply the trade q.
quickly as possible. Retail dealers init
mated they could not received large order
and that 1t would be useless for customer
to attemt to stock up.