The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-15
SOLID COAL TRAINS
May Be Brought Into Vermont TO Rem
edy Shortage.


The situation in Vermont as regard,
coal and other kinds of fuel Is so serious
that the Vermont coal committee ap'
pointed by Gov Graham and composed
of Hugh j, NJ, Jones, of Montpelier, 7, II
Brooks of st. Johnsbury and Newman
X. ChaiTee of Rutland, the calling on
the retail coal dealers OF Vermont for
exact information regarding the amount
of coal now on hand, the deficiency which
exists between that amount and the rea-
sonable demand that must be supplied II
suffering this winter is to be prevented.
Representative coal dealers have pledged
their support TO the Vermont commit
mittee and are urging other dealers,
who did not attend the Burlington meet.
ing this week to do likewise and furnish
the necessary information.
If the Vermont committee is possessed
of exact information there is a possibili.
" that one or more solid coal trains may
be sent into Vermont TO relieve the
shortage and the members Of the com.
mittee will urge that such action be TAX
en-. Unless something favorable devel-
ops the situation must be set down as
very serious in most communities in the
state There are few places where the
situation is decidedly better than in
the average communities, such as Brat
tleboro, Rutland and Burlington, where
the supply of anthracite is considered by
retail dealers to be fair, but further ship
ments are necessary even in these places.
Soft coal requirements can not be met as
n rule.
st. Johnsbury is in serious plight,
according to representations made to
the Vermont coal committee at the Bur
lington meeting, most houses, the schools
and a hospital crying for coal which can
not by furnished. In St. Adams there
is a serious shortage, and where in for
mer years the bins in many houses were
filled at this time, many of them are now
empty. Swanton and Enosburg Falls
dealers face the future with great con-
submitted a similar report. Montpelier
Germ and report that the present supply |
falls far short of ordinary requirements. |
Springfield is also very short, less than
the usual amount of coal being on hand |
in a community that has enjoyed boom
which has resulted in an increase in pop
ulation and a corresponding increase in
the demand Newport also needs coal
and needs it badly.
With the exception of Brattleboro,
Rutland and Burlington, where more coal
Is needed but the present supply being
fair, the reports of the retail dealers to
The Vermont coal committee showed that
he stocks now on hand in Most of the
Vermont communities vary from 10 TO 80
Der cent of the customary stock. Wood
s also almost impossible to obtain, so
hat the outlook of relief from that
source is very poor. The reasons set
orth by Hugh j. NJ Jones, who, as chair
nan of the Vermont coal committee, is
member of the New England executive
and has been in conference
With federal officials, including President
Wilson, as accounting for the shortage
re: War has taken coastwise shipping
rom the coal trade throwing the added
BURDEN on the railroads at time when
hey are under great war strain; the
ending to the northwest of its coal sup
,ly before navigation on the Great Lakes ,
lose by winter, and the selling of much
oal to Canada, which has now been
topped. s
The Vermont coal committee hopes :
hat it may be able to secure the ship
1ent direct into Vermont of solid coal
rains, and it is to impress on the fed
raj authorities the necessity of doing
his that the retail dealers have been APP
called to to furnish the necessary fig
res The retail dealers gathered at Bur
ngton pledged their loyal cooperation
nd promised to take every step to sup
ly the trades as quickly as possible. Re- =
all dealers intimated they could not re-
Give large orders and that it would be
seless for customers to attempt to stock
p.