The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-12-04
144 CARS Of COAL
FAIL To RELIEVE
ACUTE SHORTAGE

The coal famine in Washington re-
maIned unbroken today in spite OF
the arrival Of IA cars for local deal
ers yesterday and this morning.
The large consignment was deIiV-
cred, for the greater part. to hotels.
apartments and places OF business.
and dealers who supply the retail
consumers were unable to begin to
meet the demand made upon them.
OF the approximately 1900 tons Of
coal in the IA carloads. $500 tons
was hard coal suitable for burning In
stoves and furnaces. Only twenty
seven carloads Of this could be
traced. TwsBty-six OF II went to
dealers who sell only to retail deal
ers and large consumers, such as ho-
tells, apartment houses and msnufac-
turing plants. II was then just
enough to supply one twenty-fifth Of
the demand, according to one dealer.
Many Cars sIdetraeked.
Inquiry among the traInmen in the
railroad yards today has thrown new
light upon the coal situation. 1t was
stated by men long in the service that
there are many cars OF coal side
tracked on the main lines and also
the branch lines running back into
the coal fields.
At the Pennsylvania yards II was
stated at noon that there were about
1900 tons of coal on the tracks. About
ninety cars were counted and OF this
number eight were consigned to the
Government. Sixty per cent OF the
cars were loaded with bituminous
coal, the remainder with hard coal.
Local dealers claim that there Is
not enough in these shipments to re-
lieve the situation and still continue
to have TROUBLE in filing the orders
on hand.
At the Baltimore and Ohio yards it
was learned that 100 tons arrived
this morning. The coal pockets re-
sembled beehives. Teams OF all de-
seription and coal carriers were
huBtling in all directions.
Not Near Enough
Jesse Suter, in charge OF fuel dis
tribution for the District, could not
tell whether the coal would be SUM-
Client to relieve the suffering caused
in the many homes where there has
been no coal for several days Re-
ports from the railroads, showing the
names OF consignees, had not reached
his office. He said. however, that II
would be necessary to receive 1I4 cars
daily for several days before the situ-
alton could be dealt with properly.
The twenty-six cars of coal which
could be traced were distributed a.
follows:
Thirteen cars to W. W. Grifnth.
First and " streets northeast
Seven cars to J. E. Chapman, 81 n
street northwest.
One car to w. H. NARROW, S11 z
street northwest.
Six cars to Albright & Parker. 1917
First street northeast.
With the exception Of the one car
to NARROW the coal was for distribu-
tion to the retail dealers and custom
ers who had placed large orders.
To supply Retailers.
W. W. Griffith stated he would dis
sible to small retail dealers. letting
them have one ton each. This will be
sold by bushel measurement to the
consumer. W nHl Is not uEtQ TINS
way will supply customers who buy
in wholesale quantities by contract.
Albright & Parker said the six cars
consigned to them already had been
delivered, and that II was less than
one-twenty- nth OF the quantity need
ed to meet the immediate demands OF
their customers.
J. E. Chapman stated his six cars
would be sold TO the retail dealers
and some delivered in large quantities
under contract.
W. II. NARROW stated the one car Of
nifty tons would be disposed Of to Gus
toners who convinced them they
needed coal most.
Can Use Much More.
All said they could use many more
carloads daily than are now coming
to Washington weekly before they
could I'LL the orders waiting on their
books.
The situation remained unchanged,
with a large number OF retail dealers
communicated with.
Here is what some OF them said:
II. L. GIotzback. 923 Twelfth Street
Northeast: We haven't any, and
can't tell when we will have"
d. II. Freeman. 6l9 Third Street
NOIlnedSl. only nave little. ana
II is going fast. We can't catch up
with the orders"
Aaron Cohen. 62s Third Street
Northeast: I'VE have a little. l am
trying to get more"
supply Won't Last Day.
John F. Davis, 1907 II Street North.
east: 81 am unloading a thirty-ton
car now. but IL won't last the day
out. have orders on the book that
VIII more than exhaust IL. | cant
tell when ! will get any more"
John :. Allison. 1912 Morse Street
Northeast: We haven't any. Don't
know when we will have. We
couldn't get any OF that arriving to-
day"
J. G. Allen. 1928 wylie: "onIv have
niue In small quantities"
Blick BROTHERS. 300 + Street North.
soft coal" Jul SO''e
J. Maury Dove. 1908 II Street Eortb-
We have no hard coal"
william King & Son. 1881 Sixte4nth
street Northwest: I'VE got nons ~
me shipments received and hay. very
little on hand" wy