Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-16
GARFIELD ASKS MOVIES
TO CUT BRIGHT LIGHTS
Fuel Director Seeks Cooperation
in Conserving Coun-
try's Coal

The moving-picture theatres Of the coun.
try have been asked by Fuel Administrator
GARFIELD to do their bit in conserving the
coal supply of the country by turning off
the bright lights in front Of their places as
early as possible and by studying at all
times the cutting down In the moving
picture houses OF heat light and power, all
OF which consumes coal"
The appeal to the PHILADELPHIA movie
men was made In the form of a letter from
Mr.. Garfield TO Stanley v. Mastbaum. man
aging director of the Stanley Company and
one of the large motion picture operators of
this territory. Mr. Mastbaum responded
promptly to the appeal and Is engaged In
organizing the proprie .ors of theatres in
Philadelphia and vicinity in concerted
movement to comply with the recommen-
dations of the fuel adm nistration.
Mr. Garfields letter to Mr.. Mastbaum is
as follows:
AS the result of very interesting in
terview with your representative, ! am
writing to solicit a practical cooperation
between the industry which you represent
and the fuel administration.
1T Is perhaps unnecessary to suggest
that the coal situation is Il serious one. but
| will state the case in general figures.
THE war needs this year for all its new
activities at least l00. 100000 tons of coal
more than in previous years. This total
is made up of the increased fuel consump-
ton of the railroads. the munition factorics
and the steel factories the navy, the army.
the cantonments and the requirements of
our allies The utmost possible increase
Of production for the year Is s0,OO0,O00 tons.
Here we have a gap of 5o,OOO,ooO tons
which must be filled in some way. Either
the war will he lost through lack OF the
basic element of fighting-coal-or domestic
consumers will go without CT the industry
not essential to the war will have 10 be
limited In a way to release the coal
''The Government is determined that the
war shall have its necessary coal II Is
also determined that the people of this
country shall not go cold. Hence. you can
see that every business like your own Is
intensely interested in promptly putting
into efect measures which will save the
amount of coal needed. We are all inter
ested that this coal should be saved rather
than obtained by the limitation of industry,
but the quantity is so great that only by
the intense patriotic efforts of all fuel users
can We make such saving as to prevent
the necessity for limiting what Is cllled
'nonessential industry.
81 have put the situation very directly
to YOU, although I have no doubt that the
patriotism of the men engaged in your line
of business would lead you to make great
effort in the direction of saving coal.
MY suggestion is that you encourage
some organized movement to study at al
times the cutting down in the moving-pic.
ture houses of heat, light and power, all oi
which consume coal. Electricity and gas
however used, mean the consumption of
coal.
From your representatives statement
feel sure that IL the subject is brought home
to every man in the business. each VIII dis'
cover numberess ways of economizing fuel
II shall certainly appreciate any acti9i
you take which will bring the matter prom
inently to the attention of moving picture
houses"