The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-15
COAL SHORTAGE IN
VERMONT SERIOUS
Brattleboro, Rutland and
Burlington Are in the
Best Condition
MANY TOWNS ARE
IN SERIOUS PLIGHT
Homes, Schools and Even Hospital in
st. Johnsbury Cannot Be Furnished
Hope to Bring Solid Coal Train Di-
rectly into State.

MONTPELIER, Sept. 15.-The situa
ton in Vermont as regards coal and
other kinds of fuel is so serious that the
Vermont coal committee, appointed by
Governor Graham and composed of
Hugh j. NJ. Jones of this city, F. H.
Brooks of st. Johnsbury, and Newman
K Chaffee of Rutland are calling on
the retail coal dealers of Vermont for
exact information regarding the amount
of coal now on hand that the deficiency
which exists between that amount and
the reasonable demand that must be
supplied if suffering this winter is to
be prevented. Representative coal deal
ers have pledged their support to the
/ Vermont committee and are urging 9TH
er dealers, who did not attend the Bur
lington meeting this week, to do like
wise and furnish the necessary informa
tion.
If the Vermont committee is possessed
of exact information there is a posi-
bilitv that one or more solid coal trains
NAV be sent into Vermont to relieve
the shortage and the members of the
committee will urge that such action be
taken. Unless something favorable le-
velopS the situation must be set down
as very serious in most communities IN
the state There are few places where
the situation is decidedly better than IN
the average communities, such as Brat
tleboro, Rutland and Burlington, where
the supply of anthracite is considered
by retail dealers to be fair, but further
shipments are necessary even in these
places. Soft coal requirements cannot
be met as a rule.
St Johnsbury is in a serious plight
/ according to representations made &c
, the Vermont coal committee at the Bur
lington meeting, most houses, the school:
and even a hospital crying for Goa
{ which cannot be furnished. In st. Al
bans there is a serious shortage ant
where in former wears the bins in MANY
{ houses were filled at this time, man,
. of them are now empty. Swanton anc
Enosburg Falls submitted a similar re
port. Montpelier dealers face the futur
/. with great concern and report that tn
present supply falls far short of ordi
nary requirement Springfield is ais
s very short. less than the usual amour
. of coal being on hand in communt.
. that has enjoyed a boom which has re
suited in an increase in population am
4 corresponding increase in the deman,
!, Newport also needs coal, and needs
0 badly.
J. With the exception of BrattleborS
!. Rutland and Burlington, where NOR
coal is needed but the present suppl
: being fair, the reports of the reta
;. dealers to the Vermont coal committe
:. showed that the stocks now on hand i
i most of the Vermont communities var
$, from u to % per cent of the customar
, stock. Wood is also almost impossible
to obtain. so that the outlook of relis
% from that source is verr poor. The re:
son set forth by Hugh J. NJ Jones, VIII
II as chairman of the Vermont coal con
a mittee is member of the New Englan
! executive committee and has been
e conference with federal officials, inclu,
:, ing President Wilson, as accounting f
q the shortage are: War work has tax
coast wise shipping from the coal trat
i throwing the added burden on the RAJ
u roads at aLtime when they are und
great war Slrdill; IHe Sehulng TO u
d northwest of its coal supply before ma
IL igation on the Great Lakes is closed
Ii winter, and the selling of much coal
al Canada, which has now been stopped
IL The Vermont coal committee hop
70 that it may be able to secure the shi
ment direct into Vermont of solid co
a trains, and it is to impress on the fe
eral authorities the necessity of dol
| this that the retail dealers have be
! appealed to to furnish the necessa
~ figures. The retail dealers gathered
~ Burlington pledged their loyal cooper
81 tion and promised to take ever st