Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-12-12
Trolley COMPANY
TO Conserve FUEL
Cars Will Not Be Heated
Between 4.30 and
100 P. NJ.
TO DISCONTINUE
NIGHT SERVICE

Heat in trolley cars will be dispensed
with from l.30 o'clock in the afternoon
until 7.30 o'clock at night, and during
the other hours Of the day only small
amount Of heat VIII be furnished, I'M
necessary runs will be discontinued as
Tar as possible, ana IL is probable that
within few days the all-night service
will be discontinued.
At conference between the Board Of
Public Utilities Commission, Thomas
W. Wilson and w. A. Heindc, Of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company; Charles H. Ten Weeges. coal
administrator for Delaware, and Robert
d. Kemp. chairman OF the local coal
committee In Mayor Lawson's office
last evening, Il was decided that these
efforts to conserve the fuel supply Of
Wilmington should be begun at once.
Warnings were also issued by the
Utilities Commission to the public gen
orally and espe-nlly TO manufacturing
plants to use every effort 20 conserve
the coal supply. The matter Of closing
the schools during the holidays, giving
the children another weeks vacation,
which would effect their school work
in no way, was considered as a factor
in saving fuel.
MIR. Ten Weeges told the commission
why fuel has become alarmingly scarce
and suggested remedies for its con
servatl0n, and predicted a more drastic
regulation OF public utilities in the
event Of failure on the part OF The pub
lie 10 aid In saving coal. The matter OF
eliminating all public electric signs,
window lights and portion Of the
street lights was discussed, but no ac-
ton taken.
Mr.. Wilson, Of the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company, ex-
planned 10 HE commission the reason
for its inability TO supply as much
power as is needed 81 certain hours Of
the day. pledged The company 10 do
all It could Ia helping carry on the
war, and expressed himself as willing
10 cut out all lights for non-essential
purposes, such as window lighting and
signs. II the commission ordered It,
He said that II was impossible for the
company TO do some Of these things
suggested, as they are tied up with
contracts. He stated that the COM
pany. by reason Of its greatly Increased
business and inability TO secure sum-
Client fuel. would not agree to take OF
any additional orders for power excep
In the case Of government contracts.
Another suggestion made was th'
early closing Of stores and the clos
ing Of factories az different hours o
the day, so that the strain on the powe
plant Of the traction company might b
, distributed over a larger period an
thus save fuel.
A complaint from the Delaware Hos
! pital regarding noisy cars in front c
, The hospital was read. and Mr.. Wilso
B. promised that the nuisance should b
] promptly abated.
A large number Of communication
/ Of small Importance wero read an
ordered fled
Before adiourning the commission
called for a report from the Whining
ton Traction Company TO show hov
much business has been done In th
months experiment with running car
eli night with tho cost therefore, an
while no official action was taken,
was practically agreed that II the re
ports showed a failure OF the servic
to pay that It should be discontinued
Mr. Wilson, iu his statements to On
commission, having made the declara
ti0n that the amount Of travel woul
not pay the wages Of the men wh
operate the cars, and that he woul
T gladly abandon the service provide
the commission thought It desirable
DO so.