Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
CONFERENCE CALLED
ON FUEL SITUATION
Council Of Defense Invites Traffic
Officers OF Railroads to
Attend.
IS A OMITTED ERIOUS
Byrd Suggests Use OF Convicts and
Jail Prisoners in Cutting Cord
wood for Sale in Municipality Oper-
ated Woodyards.
8 ADMITTEDLY SERIOUS

From a number OF aspects. the fuel
situation IN Virginia vas thoroughly
discussed by the State Council OF Do
Tense at its meeting yesterday at the
Capitol. The basis Of the discussion
was report submitted by Harry Flood
Byrd, Federal fuel administrator for
Virginia. In order that there may be
complete harmony of purpose and CO.
operation OF effort in handling the diff
ficult problems connected with the fuel
needs OF this State, the council pro-
poses a conference between Mr.. Byrd,
General Z. w. Nichols. chairman Of
tho council, and tho chief executive
operating and traffic officers of the
Norfolk and Western Railway, the Vlr-
glnian and the Chesapeake and Ohio,
to be held here, II possible. next
Thursday at noon.
The fuel situation in Virginia, as
elsewhere. is admittedly serious. and
is becoming more so every day. Some
of the large educational institutions,
it is said. are without supplies to In
sure their keeping in operation long
unless relief is granted in some way.
those people who bu. coal in small
generally realized.
President l.. T. Johnson, OF the Nor
folk and Western, said at the councils
meeting yesterday that more coal was
being produced than ever before in the
history of the country. The shortage
in actual available supply. he said, was
due to the lack of engines to haul the
coal trains. The reason for this, he
said was the uaceSsity for nbauipo a..
governments priority orders us to the
transportation of government supplies
INDUCE PEOPLE TO BURN
WOOD INSTEAD OF COAL.
The Council OF Defense believes that
much good will be accomplished il the
operating and traffic officials of the
coal al-carrying roads in Virginia confer
with the fuel administrator and have
a frank discussion looking to the pos
sibility of relieving the pressing con-
dition in Virginia.
at this same conference, to be held
next Thursday il possible, considera-
ton will he givca plans FOR inducing
the people to burn wood instead of coal,
and to means OF Increasing tho avail
able supply of wood suitable for fuel.
III bringing this matter to the at
tcntion Of the council. Mr.. Byrd stated:
ut is now apparent to me that many
rural sections will have TO depend en-
tircly upon their wood supply. At my
suggestion. DR.. Garfield has requested
me 10 institute Investigations OF the
proper price of wood, with view OF
having governmental regulation of
wood prices. ! consider this tn be
necessary, as with tho shortage OF
coal the price OF wood has advanced
in Norfolk aud other places from $40
TO SIG per cord within the last ten days.
The use OF wood as fuel can only be
substituted in the smaller places salts
factori!y.
WOULD USE CoNvICTs
TO CUT CORDWOOD
"'The production of firewood is
limited by tho shortage Of labor. 1t
has occurred to me that a campaign
could be started to use tho prisoners
in jails throughout Virginia. and nos
sibly the convicts during the winter
months. when they arc not able TO
work on the roads. to cut wood under
a fixed price per cord to the owner
of tho wood on the stump. and then
have distribution made by municipal
woodyards. offcr this az sugges-
tion. and would be glad II tho Council
OF Defense would appoint COMMITTEES
lcontlnued on Fitteenth Page.}