Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-30
MUST ACT QUICKLY
TO GET COAL HERE
Trigg Warns That Other
Places May Profit at
City's Expense
QUEST OF d A L A
Letter and QUESTIONABLE Sent
Out to All Big Consumers,
Asking Facts

To obtain information as to the coa'
shortage in the Philadelphia district, 80
that concerted action may be taken nrl, ,I',
diately TO relieve this situation, the Phlia-
, delphia Chamber of Commerce. through lts
president, Ernest r. Trigg, has sent OUT
a circular letter with an attacheu ques-
tlonnaire to consumers Of coal in quaht'tles
in Philadelphia.
In the circular letter it is stated that
many other districts have presented their
conditions to the Fuel Administration WIFI
a demand for relief, and that;
Unless Philadelphia, with its tremen-
dous growth of ammunition and snip
building plants and other activities IN con-
nection with Government requirements,
puts itself on record promptly anu
forcibly and unless Philadelphia takes
determined stand for its requirements
then other communities will benefit at our
expense
The railroads of the country are now
virtually at the apex of their carrying
power. with winter coming ON the rail-
rol I'd situation will undoubtedly become
more difficult and materially reduce their
service.
LOOK TO FUEL COMMITTEE
The letter states that the fuel admins
tration committee is the only source to
which I'VE can look for relief and co-opera-
tion in this crisis of our industrial situa-
ton"
The letter was sent to all hotels apart
ment houses. large boarding houses, manu-
featuring establishments, stores of every
nature, institutions and to places employ
ing more than fifty or sixty people in the
city of Philadelphia and in the smaller
towns forming the metropolitan district
This takes in Chester West Chester, Media,
Downingtown, Coatesvile, Norristown, Phoe-
uiNNil1p ppttst and bristol.
The QUESTIONABLE accompanying the letter
reads as follows:
what was your consumption of coal from
April, 1910, to April, 1917"
What Will be your approximate require
ments from April, 1917, to April, 1872
How much have you received from April
1 to October I, 1911?
What amount OC coal have you now on
handg
What Is IA normal tonnage for you to
have on hand ut this period:
At the present rate of consumption, how
long will the supply you now have last?
DO you use anthracite or bitundnous?
what Is your line of manufacturer
Have you any large Government con-
tracts?
Have you any contracts for delivery of
coal for balance of time mentiOnedf
PLAN TO BAN BONFIRES
There will be no fuel wasted in bonires
on election night if the Federal fuel board
for the city can prevent it. All very well
ordinary years for the youth of the city to
set free its surplus of vitality in this rather
extravagant manner, but to waste even a
spark of precious fuel at this national crisis
would be a reproach to the city, is the view
held by Francis A. Lewis in inditinG the
following letter.
Honorable Thomas B. Sg~,t,l,
Mayor Of Philadelphia.
My Dear Sir-The custom has pre-
vailed in Philadelphia for many years
of building bonfires on election night the
wood for the purpose being begged or
stolen by those who made the fires In
view of the great shortage of fuel of all
kinds at this time, we ask you to forbid
any such demonstrations by bonfires on
election night There is need to save for
some useful purpose every stick of wood.
and its waste would be little short of
criminal at this time.
Yours very truly,
FRANCIS A. LEWIS
Chairman Federal Fuel Committee of
Philadelphia.