Evening star., 1917-11-25
ENOUGH SOFT COAL
T0PREvENT FAMINE
Government Stocks Can Be
Divided Among Poor,
Mr.. Weaver Says.
DELAY ON RAILROADS

There is a sufficient supply Of bitumi-
nous coal in Washington to prevent ols-
tress.
Government stocks will be requisi-
toned to be divided among the poor II
suffering results from the cold weathef
which set in last night.
This was the relief held out to WASH
ington, a city with empty coal bins. py
fuel administrator for the District John
4. weaver after protracted conferences
with officials of the national fuel aomln,
istration and traffic experts VINO Workeu
fast with railroad oihcialS 70 cieai a,e
tracks for coal supplies on the way 10
the capital.
Congestion on Railroad Vexes.
"what to do about the congestion on
the railroads between Phi1adelphla ana
Washington is problem .he auii' ai n
rraticn has not solved, said nj.
Weaver last night: franc eSpe.as fa,ai
hard at work with officials OF the 1uei
administration, working on plans TO ply
loose the jam which has held up the
Districts coal supplies.
Whether additipnai coal STOCKS. u, IN
sufficient quantities. will arrive IN
Washington today and tomorrow 10 re-
lieve possible suffering from the cold'
Mr.. Weaver could not say;
approximately one thousand tons OF
fuel yesterday over the Baltimore ana
Ohio railroad, but as this IS not even
equal to a days needs for washington
no relief was found in this shipment
$4,000 Tons on the Road.
officials last night believed that the
shipment of 1000 tons of coal by the
Philadelphia and Reading iron ana
Coal Company. which was staItea 70
" r.; ciy
tainly begin to arrive in the capltai, IN
broken lots. by today, but IN the ao-
sence of definite information as to It's
movements they would make no pos
tive statement about it.
II families run completely out OF coal
before a sufficient quantity of anthra-
istration will requisition stocks, held
by Walter Reed General Hospital, the
Old Soldiers Home and the various
government departments, and distribute
it according to the needs OF the popula-
ton.
consumers for allotment of incoming
shipments was indicated by Admins
traitor Weaver last night, who said
dealers would cooperate with the ad-
ministration in coal distribution. there-
by preventing a run on the market when
supplies arrive.
Use of Soft Coal Urged.
In the meantime AQHlHlStIdtOI
Weaver urged that soft coal be used
by families wherever obtainable until
a supply of the anthracite variety
reaches Washington. That there are
sufficient stocks of soft coal here to
prevent actual suffering, if distributed
equitably, is Mr.. Weaver's belief.
He declared protests are made by
many coal seekers against the use OF
soft coal in homes, the objections be-
ing based on the fact that bituminous
coal causes smoke and SCOT. The pres
ent time is not one in which people
can afford to be finicky in regard to
the use of fuel he asserted.
Today is not one of rest for fuel ad-
ninistration officials, who have pledged
themselves no period OF rest until the
ences will be held between Administra-
tor Weaver, coal dealers and railroad
officials relating chiefly to the supplies
which are caught in congestfons on the
and Baltimore and Ohio
railroads between Philadelphia and
Washington.
Washington Not to Suffer.
washington can rest assured it will
not suffer from a fuel shortage" was
MIR. Weaver's statement after a series
of conferences last night
This is the capital of the nation. 1t
is as important that the welfare of peo-
pie here be conserved as anywhere else
in the United States, and it will be. If
a crisis comes government stocks will
be requisitioned. and distributed and
the railroad tracks cleared by priority
orders for coal supplies to take the
place of these requisitioned stocks"