The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-26
GRAHAM SEES LITTLE
RELIEF nv FUEL MATTERS
Vermont Executive, Returning from Con-
ference in Washington, Urges ver-
mont People to Saw Wood.

After returning from fuel conferenc,
in Washington, Gov. Graham os Vermont
does not have much faith that the fue
situation will improve as winter nd
vances, and he seems fearful that both
hard and soft coal will be more difficult
TO obtain in January and February than
at present.
After two hours conference with Dr.
Garfield, the promise was made that the
administrators would use every effort TO
relieve the soft coal shortage; but as la
Dor is as scarce at the mines as else
where, and as most of thescoal roads are
congested with government traffic, and as
the towing facilities from Newport News
TO New England points have been less
ened by the taking over OF certain sea-
going tugs by the navy department, the
prospect does not appear encouraging to
Gov. Graham; and he thinks that it is a
case where "the wish is father to the
thought" The supply Of hard coal, espe-
cially that for domestic use, cannot be
improved, because New England is now
getting her full share OF hard coal.
More coal is being mined than ever be-
fore and more carried by the railroads TO
tidewater and all rail points, but the
large increase in the consumption of coal
by manufactures quickly absorbs the in.
creased output. 1t is purely case of the
supply not being equal to the demand.
apparently, in most cases." said the
governor, "it will be a hand to mouth
situation that cannot in every instance
be relieved. More coal will have to be
mined. This calls for more labor. which
cannot be had, more coal cars and more
motive power for the railroads, and
greater barge towage. As the railroads
are situated, even if they had the money, |
which they have not, it would take time
to procure the power and the cars, and, |
while certain boats are being brought !
rom the Great Lakes TO help relieve the |
sowage situation, these boats may be-
,ome necessary to the government for
,ther uses at almost any time. The loco
motives which have been constructed in
his country for the allies are in many
ases still here, but they are not adapted
o, and so cannot be used to advantage
N our roads. 1t was hoped that the
Elimination of cross hauling. whereby
astern coal went west and western coal
anne east of the Alleghenies, would help
he situation; but this seems 10 be rath
r a drop in the bucket solution
While Gov. Graham did not find all the
ifferent officials in accord, he gave the
that they are all trying TO do
heir best and that what is needed most
Capitalization of authority and a
ringing together under one head of the
mining and transportation of fuel. In
ther words, there is too much passing
he buck" while the people freeze.
The governor said: Wherever posi-
lie to obtain wood, the people should use
{; and it may become necessary for the
ian who can use an axe to do so. The
ian who cannot use an axe can at
ast pull saw, and the two can put up
woodpile. In the same way as we har.
est our fields, we must also harvest our \
oodlots. If the dwellers in the towns 3
ould join forces and put mp woodpiles, e
meone with achis.e could readily be I
und 10 saw the wood, and the farmer b
! whose land it ID cut would be glad to q
id or yard the logs and haul the wood =
the village. after it is sawed; and the 9
ople who cat it down could then split q
and put it under cover. The farmer or Z
1odlot owner would be more than glad b
do it all, but he has not the labor. ca
"A great many" said the governor in Z
perhaps majority of the u
ople look upon this war as a side line;
i the sooner we all realize that il is VI
e only business we have, the sooner we SC
all win the war and our right to do II
siness as usual. Until then, everybody cf
" wood. OF