Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-31

at the conference seemed to be that New England has been discriminated Washington tbelieyes that the shortage .a exaggerated.
 . While tKe outlook is bad, by co- operation with the New England fuel administrator and the Connecticut fS1. administrator conditions can be bet tered. Norwich is not nearly so bad off for coal as are many towns in Yer mont and Maine. Augusta, Me. is derstand that they are using mostly wood. at '$14 per cord.iwhile the state house in Vermont is absolutely with out coal If we in, Norwich. hope to we must be ready to respond to any call from MT. Storrow, the New Eng land fuel administrator, or MT. Rus sell, the Come cticut fuel adm!nistra- tor, should they need our help. even to the point of. sending a Norwich deie- gation to Washington to convince the authorities there that New England does not holler until she is hurt.
 The coal situation, came to the att tentions of the Chamber of CommerCs a few days ago when letter was re ceived from MT, Boyd. who .s mana ger of the American Strawboard com pany's plant. asking that some action De taken in the matter. The secretary of the chamber. H. R. Branche, imme. diately sent a communication to the Connecticut fuel administrator i'll re gard to the matter. the communication being as follows:
 Thomas w. Russell. Fuel Administra-
 tor. Connecticut State Council of
 Defense.f Hartford. Connecticut
 Dear Sir: am taking the liberty of enclosing herewith copy of letter this day received from J. J. Boyd. mana ger of the American Straw Board Co., which tolls its own story. This is oniy one of several large industries of Nor wich who find themselves upon the verge of winter facing a coal famine
 I will specify one other instance. namely tho gas and electric depart ment of the city of Norwich. This Is 8 municipal plant and at the. present ttne are entirely out of coal. borrow ing from Industries with a promise to repay whom they are ablo to get some. The Shetucket company loaned two carloads of: coal to this industry to keep them going. Should this plant be forced to shut down it means that light or power.
 It seems to, my mind that one of tho first essentials toward national de- fense ought to he the furnishing of fuel to our industries, Next to per- ishable freight I believe fuel should have precedence over all other conn modities by our transportation lines. I cannot use sufficiently strong lam what the lack of fuel for our indus tries means to us here in Norwich. and of course to every other oitv in the state and nation. If tho same sit uation prevails in other sections of New England as prevails here there must be a reason. and there must be Q power big enough in this country to place the blame upon the party or parties responsible for the same, The coal condition has been growing rap idly worse from year to year until now at the close of 1917 we arc absolutely up against a. famine,
 AS Mfr. Boyd has stated his factory is closed, His is only ono of many that will find themselves forced to shut down if tho present situation Is not at once relieved. This of course. throwing. out of employment tllousan nds Of operatives who will become public charges at time when prices for all comm odities of life are next to pro- hibitiVe.
 Will you not wire upon receipt of this letter. Federal Fuel Administrat tor the coal situation in Norwich Thanking you very kindly for your attention. remain,
 Very truly syours H. R. BRANCHE.
 >......- Score tary. 7. A reply was received the following day from Mir. Russell. MT. Russell in. formed the secretary that in accord ance with his communication and in- received from other sources he had wired Washington asking re- lief.