Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-28
CONSUMERS MAY BUY
ONLY TWO TONS OF COAL
Fuel Administrators Takes Steps t.
Prevent boarding Of
Supply.
HOPES TO AVERT FAMINE
Hotels, Apartments and Office Build
ings May Buy Only Fifteen Days
Supply at Ono Tinlc-Byrd EX-
plains His Ruling.

State Fuel Administrators Harry
Flood Byrd announced yesterday tho
following rules governing tho dis
,ribution OF coal. in effect immc-
diatcly:
/, No person shall be allowed to buy
coal from retailers in Virginia or direct
from the mines for household purposes
until his supply on hand AT his home.
or elsewhere. is two tons or less.
=. Providing that any person has not
more than two tons OF coal OF hand,
such person shall be allowed to pur-
chase for household use not more than
two tons.
!. Every coal dealer shall require
each purchaser OF coal of more than
four bushels to sign written state
mcnt. under oath, showing the amount
Of coal on hand at his home. ana else
where. and how much he has ordered
bu: not received.
{. Every such purchaser shall be re-
quired to pledge himself not to buy. or
attempt to buy, any more coal until
his supply Of coal at home. and else
where. for home use, shall be two tons
or less
). Schools. colleges. Office buildings
apartment houses. hotels. department.
stores and other business houses and
industrial plants without govcrnme mt
contracts. who obtain coal by wagon
delivery in less than carload lots. are
not permitted to buy coal until they
have on hand at their place of bust
ness, or elsewhere. not over fifteen
n n1I
plants requiring coal i'll carload lots
will be classified and allowed To obtain
coal by special order Of the State ad-
ministrator.
.. Every person purchasing for the
institutions and concerns mentioned in
Rule shall make Il statement. under
oath. showing the amount OF coal on
hand at his place of business. aud else
elsewhere. but not received; and. fur
ther, shall pledge said institution or
concern that il will not buy any more
coal until the amount on hand available
shall be not over ten days supply.
Z. Coal dealers are requested to make
the amounts OF coal supplied less than
the amounts mentioned above wherever
in their opinion, necessities OF the COM
munity require.
BYRD EXPLAINS OBJECT
OF THIS RULING
Mr.. Byrd. in announcing this ruling.
said:
In order to avert the threatened
coal famine in Virginia il is impera-
tive that the most equitable diStribu-
lion possible be made of the available
supply. Consumers faNorably situated
Will not be permitted to obtain coal
when others are unable to obtain il
For this reason. think il necessary
10 limit coal for household consump-
ton to Ii maximum Of four tons on hand
at all times. With the proper dis
tribution. no one need fear that he
will suffer for lack oil coal. Our coal
distribution. however must at once be
put on war basis and cuuitably dis
tributed to all consumers. There is
going to be a square deal in coal in
the state Of Virginia. Thosc people
who have boarded UP coal will not be
benefited as in case OF shortage such
coal will be commandeered and used
To prevent suffering among those who
have been unable to obtain their
supply.
II appeal to al! patriotic Virginians
to assist In complying with these regu-
lations. They are imperativcly' ncces-
s8ry at this crisis"