The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-01
State Fuel Administrator
Jones Is Hopeful in
Dark Situation
STATE BETTER OFF
THAN SOME OTHERS
No Community to Be Gi y
Amount in Exec
of Needs :

II. J. NJ. Jones, the ST q admins
traitor, is finding cons Z embarrass-
ment in securing al y date supply of
coal for Vermont, although at present
there are favorable indications that fur
ther shipments will soon be made. When
compared with the other New England
states, Vermont is we'll supplied with
anthracite but there are still numerous
demands for coal for domestic and for
manufacturing purposes Although it is
the policy of the federal fuel admins
tration to meet all pressing needs, es-
pecially of plants manufacturing war
materials, vet it is not its policy to sup
ply community with an excess above
the community's demands in previous
years.
Various elements have contributed to
the present acute coal situation. The past
winter was unusually severe and the en-
tire coal supply for heating purposes
was generally exhausted. The war has
drawn heavily upon the supply of labor
ers available to meet the present labor
emergency. The war and navy depart
ments demand in excess over previous
years more than 100000 tons in order
to supply the transports and new war
ships, to meet the large requirements OF
the many plants in the production OF
war supplies, to furnish the allies in ex-
treme cases, and to heat the various can
tonments, each of which is larger than
any city in Vermont.
On account of the present intensive
manufacture and the communicating Of
all shipping previously employed in the
transportation of coal, there is not now
available, as in former years, surplus
of cars for the shipment of coal. The
great bulk of freighting is at present
toward the Atlantic seaboard. As a re-
suit, New England is at a peculiar dis
advantage as the freight cars coming
from the sections of the country west
of the coal areas can be loaded with coal
on their return, while such an advan-
tage does not exist for those sections
east of the coal areas.
The state fuel administrator has no
power to order shipments or TO enforce
contracts for coal. His duties are linn.
tied chiefly to recommendations of needs
Of plants and of dealers; to supervision
of local distribution: to advice concern
ing prices to be fixed and to general
The New England states
are grouped under the New England fuel
administrator James j. Storrow of Bos
on, to whom all fuel matters of any one
If these states are committed.
Mr.. Jones urges immediate efforts to-
ward securing wood supply for next
winter, either by individual or by com
nunity effort. He also recommends that,
wherever possible, two or more denomi
lations worshipping in separate coal
leated edifces consider holding services
ogether or at different hours in the
anne building. He advises local fuel
ealers to anticipate their needs for next
ear and to put in their orders for coal
S early as possible, and urges individu-
Is in their homes to practice as much
in the use of coal as is consist
Mt with health conditions.
The attention of operators of electric
lants and halls is called to the order
the federal fuel administrator, Nov.
3, 1917, to the effect that no coal shall
e used for generating electricity before
(: 45 p. m. and after II p. m. for illumi
ating display advertisements, notices,
signs. designations of To-
itions of offices or places of business. or
,r illumination of the exterior of build
gs, except for lighting federal, state
municipal signs and buildings, the
ghting of streets, the designation of
aces of business by electric signs over
rect doors under certain conditions, and
lie lighting of porches, driveways, fire
capes and of railway platforms, yards
Id grounds.