Evening star., 1917-10-05
NO COAL SHORTAGE,
SAYSDR. GARFIELD
But Dealers Here Insist They
Are Unable to Supply Their
Customers.
REFUSE TO TAKE ORDERS

The fuel administration today put out =
statement which credited DR.. Harry A.
GARFIELD. the fuel administrator. with a
denial that a coal shortage. ''either pres
ent or prospective" existed in Washing
ton.
Within an hour a reporter for The Even
ing Star called up five Of the largest re-
tail coal dealers in the city. ostensibay to
order a supply Of anthracite coal. and
the first four said they had none to de-
liver. while the fifth promised to deliver a
ton of chestnut coal within few days for
1866.
Four OF the i've dealers called in
quired whether the prospective pur
chaser was IAN ola customer" and. on
being told he had just moved to town
and taken a house here. expressed re-
grets that they were unable to serve
him.
Have Begged for Coal.
I'VE have been begging and pleading
with the railroads TO get some coal to
us. but we haven't any hard coal We
can sell you except pea COAL" said the
first dealer called.
Call No. was answered by a sympa-
thetic woman's voice. mo. we haven't
had any stove coal for two weeks.
she said. Have You ever pouBnt from
US before?"
Well, you see we must have 500 or
ders waiting now," she said. when an
swered in the negative. and expressed
her regret when the caller declared he
would have to burn the furniture IN
the furnace to keep warm
Call No. 8 also was answered BY
feminine voice. whose first question was
whether the prospective customer had
ever bought coal there before.
suppose I leave my order now. how
soon can you get me some stove coal!
None to Sell Now.
That's hard to tell" said the clerk.
1--WE don't like to take your order and
keep you waiting. Maybe we could get
you some in ten days or two weeks. but
we cannot make any promises we
have none we could sell you now.
Sorry, but we haven't got bit.
said No. 4 when asked for a supply OF
stove coal, and then even chestnut or
egg coal mo. We have no idea Just
when we will have some for you. We
are doing our best to get II, but we are
in an awful shape"
No. 5 was the only ono that held out
any promise to the coalless public.
Not a chance" he said, when asked
for stove coal. There isn't any to be
had. But we can let you have . ton of
chestnut"
He quoted a price of Ss.65 a ton put
away" at a Georgetown address. but
instead of anxiety at losing a sale. he
seemed relieved when told that the
prospective purchaser would try some
place else"
Fuel Administration Statement.
The statement put out by the fuel
administration today reads:
Denial Of reports Of coal shortage
in Washington. D. c.. or Of general
shortage in eastern points. either pres
Federal Fuel Administrator Harry A.
Garfield. There is not now enough coal
in Washington for the winter. but the
quantity needed will be supplied after
navigation closes on the great lakes
November Is.
Shipments to the great lakes are be-
ing given preference in order to pro-
vide sufficient coal for the northwest
necessary in order to prevent ship
ment of coal all rail to the northwest
after the close of navigation. thus
sending cars out of service. which
would result in an actual car shortage.
The eastern sections of the country are
being supplied with sufficient coal for
necessary requirements, but increased
shipments are not being made for stor-
age purposes. because all surplus coal
is being shipped to the lakes for north
west delivery from the COCKS
LAS soon as navigation closes on the
lakes such shipments will be diverted
to eastern points and distributed ae-
cording to need, and We anticipate
there will be sufficient coal available
for necessary requirements.
''1 he matter of prompt movement OF
coal cars is now receiving considera-
ton. and il will undoubtedly be neces-
sary to give them preference in move
ment. both loaded and empty. over
other slow freight. This will provide
additional cars. nich should result in
increased production sufficient for all
necessary purposes.