The Detroit times., 1917-10-09
DETROIT TO
HAVE COAL
DIG
Will See That Fuel Sup
ply Is Distributed
Fairly aiifi

Detroit viii have coal dictator
within couple Of days who will
see that there are black diamonds"
ia every home in the city This die
tator viii have two or three assist
ants and will have offices in the city
hail. ~ the suggestion OF George
Engel city controller, is acted upon
faNnrahlX By -MAXor- -MaEX-
Mr. Eneel head Of the committee
which went TO Washington last
week and prevailed upon Harry a
Garfield. fuel dictator, and the
priority shipment board 20 divert
coal 20 Detroit a. once. Is now the
practical coal dictator of Detroit.
He has suggested 20 the mayor that
he appoint a dictator and assistants
TO see that the coal dealers play
fair with the public As Mr. Engol
Is the chief coal expert OF the city
administration az present. il IS al
most a foregone conclusion that
Mayor Marx viii adopt his plan.
aliho the mayor is now IN New York
and will not return until late Wed
ncsday night or early Thursday
morning
Retail coal dealers have agreed
with the local admin that
II the city got them shipments of
coal they would distribute il whore
IL would do the most good That
is. they would not permit one Gus
toner TO buy 20 or 80 tons and let
another 20 without any coal They
agreed TO- keep patrons supplied for
their immediate use. hut not allow
coal to accumulate in bin for fu-
ture use The city administration
and the dealers agree thai s. viii he
a hard job 10 keep AN families sun
piled with sufficient coal tor 80 day
periods.
To avoid the possibility OF wealthy
persons paying premiums and ,au-
obtaining large supplies. Mr Engel
suggests the dictator who will have
absolute control over the supply
brought 20 Detroit The dealet-
themselves could not get supplies
but for thc Intervention of Detroit
officially and for that reason ihe
city authoritie- feel that they have
a right 10 supervise the disiribu
tion Under this plan coal VIII be
distributed In one or two-tun lots
Tuesday Controller Engcl sent
out nine accountants 10 check up on
the supplies ot coal in tho yards OF
retail doalers and the supply in
transit The city wants this iuf0r
nation officially 90 forward to Wash
ington so that The government will
SOC the sad straits 20 which Detroit
is reduced and keep up Ihe ship.
meuf 90 approximately l2G ears of
coal daily The government has
promised This amount daily until
the city does supply n with official
confederation df repro osentations
made by the committee in Wash
ington last .yoek Dotroit ie allow cd
three days Tn which 20 give the ma
tional coal administration accurate
figures ON the situation here
Police inspectors ol thc city will
meet with Controller Engei late
Tuesday afiCr1o1f. f1 arrange a
plan by which tha lcc Departments
will make a ClnFl OF every coal
bin in every homo % tha city 500
that Tho report lnaf goes forward
20 Wa shin ton VII have Gre si'Ta
tion here as De0riy acrHr.to-a. 90
is pO-sih'a t1 rct b. commit
tee reported jha @ aHG homes iu
This city arc s1-o'".e s. vr CO cont
bui tho committee want fo prove
lts ngures. Tofort rh' policemen
will be- knoCkine 90 door asking
houschoidors t0 permf them to
have a look at tho con bins