The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-12-10
FUEL COMMISSION
For Mason County Named--Co.opera'
tion Of All Coal Dealers Of Mason
County Asked In Letter
To Them.

Mr.. s. P. Browning Of the Ohio Val
ley Pulley Works, has been named
fuel administrator for Mason county
and has named Mr.. Horace ]. Coch-
ran, Of the Maysville Public Service
Company, and Mr.. Harry T. Miles, Of
the Sphar Brick Company, to act with
him. The commission mailed the fol-
lowing letter to all the coal dealers Of
the county Saturday:
To the Coal Dealers of Mason Coun-
ty:
The undersigned have been appoint
ed as the Federal Fuel Committee for
Mason county, to act as the local rep
resentative of the United States Ad-
ministration, under the direction of
Mr.. Wiley B. Bryan, Federal Fuel Ad-
ministrator for Kentucky.
We have accepted this appointment,
actuated solely by desire to be Of
some benefit in the present emerg-
ency, and to assist, in SO far as lies
In our power, the dealers Of Mason
county to secure and maintain a sup
ply of coal, to the end that the users
in our community may not be incon-
venienced. 1t Is our earnest desire to
serve both the dealers and the public.
We wish to assure the dealers of a
fair margin Of profit in the marketing
Of their merchandise, and the consum-
ers a fair price for the fuel which
they must have. We clearly recog-
nize that unless the dealers are per-
mitted to conduct their business with
fair margin Of profit that it would
be impossible for them to live, and
the undue curtailment of such a mar
gin would not only result in great in
convenience, but likewise in suffering
and distress to the consuming public
The duties Of the local committee
to set out in our instructions, are as
follows:
/. To gather information regard
ing the supply Of fuel in their severa
communities.
2. To ascertain the fuel needs o.
the communities, with special regart
to the points of immediate need.
| 8. To require information from re
tail coal dealers, respecting the cos
of coal, the cost of doing business ant
the gross margins and profits.
We are instructed to fully investi
gate and report the gross margins, b.
ascertaining from the retail dealers
of the county the gross margins the.
have charged in the year 1915 and tn,
gross margins they have charged il
July Of the year 1917. We are also in
structed to ascertain from you tn
cost per ton Of handling coal, both TO
domestic use and for industrial pur
poses. We are instructed to reques
YOU to itemize the different item
which make up this cost per ton, an,
to that end have been instructed I,
prepare the enclosed blank, send it t
you, and request that you shall max
answer thereto under oath. After re
ceipt of these replies we will then b
able to ascertain what will be the fai
gross margin for this city and coun
ty. We shall then recommend fai
gross margin for this community
stating the substantial facts whic
have caused US to arrive at our con
clus:on.
In filing out the enclosed blan
please be very careful to give accur
ate figures, based on your records 70
the periods Of time above mentioned
and when you have filled out the blan
swear to same before notary. Tn
information which the committe
shall receive will be considered in at
solute confidence, and no information
received from one dealer will be com
municated to another dealer TIL
committee will not only compare an
compile the information received, bu
will verify it to the best of their abil
ity Upon the information received
will arrive at its conclusion as to tn
proper prices, and after its decisio
has been approved by the Fedora
Fuel Administrator for Kentucky, wi
advise you thereof.
II the matter Is not entirely clear I
you any member Of the committe
will be very glad to explain 1t faI
ther.
In order that We may have all tn
dealers Of Mason county we shall az
preciate 1t II each one of you will pre-
pare list of all the dealers operatin
in the county and forward same I
the committee. We have compiled
list, including all the names Of whic
We are advised. but there may b
some outside Of Maysville with whoi
We are not acquainted.
Yours very truly.
Federal Fuel Administration Maso
Countv Kenfnckv