Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
SITUATION SERIOUS,
BUT NOT YET ACUTE
Coal Dealers Fear No In
creased Suffering if Average
Receipts Continue.
YARD STOCKS UNCHANGED

Near-zero weather and heavy snow
storm this morning found the National
Capital with a coal situation serious,
but not yet acute. Whether it will be-
come acute within the next few days
depends on how greatly the cold and
snow retard work at the mines and the
operation of railway trains. Large coal
dealers this morning expressed the
opinion that if receipts of coal can be
kept up to the average of the last ten
days there need be no increase of suf-
fering. even if the cold spell is pro-
longed. But any marked reduction in
receipts soon would bring on a condi-
ton approaching famine.
Despite the increased receipts and
the. ten days or more of comparatively
mild weather. there has been no appre-
cable gain in the amount of coal the
dealers have in their yards. Taken as
a whole, the situation as to coal stocks
is bout the same today as it was when
the cold wave struck the city two weeks
ago. Dealers express the opinion that
there has been an increase in the
amount of coal held in the cellars of
consumers.
II there has been no such increase, they
assert. it is because the public has not
needed the warning by Fuel Admins
traitor Weaver that during the period of
less rigorous weather coal should be con-
served against the coming Of another
cold SPELL
When Washington woke up this morn
ing and found the mercury lowering SO
degrees above the zero mark there en-
sued what approached very closely to a
coal panic. Every coal dealer in the city
was besieged by anxious. consumers and
the telephone calls were SO heavy that
clerks had to be assigned specially to
answer them.
At the distributing Office of the local
seekers of emergency orders were lined
up four and five deep.
Many Bushel Customers in Line.
Dealers who sell to the bushel trade
found customers waiting for them
when they opened up this morning.
There were men and women. white and
wash boilers. and Children chill asS with toy toy
wakons. demanding increased supplies,
not only because Of the cold weather
but that they might have coal enough
to last over Sunday. The buehel yards
with only one or two known excep-
TONS had coal enough or were able to OBJ
tain enough to meet all demands made
upon them. assuring that the cfty's
poor will. not have to spend fireless
Sunday.
AS it is the policy of the fuel ad-
TO keep the bushel yards
supplied. Stocks depleted today will be
replenished by Monday morning.
Fuel Administrator Weaver has at
several dumps limited supply of coal
subject absolutely to his command. and
which will be distributed only on
emergency orders issued from his Of
flee. Any dealer who sells to the bush
ell trade who is unable to get coal
from other sources can obtain up to
ten tons by applying to Mr.. Weaver
for an order. So long az there is any
coal in the city. the bushel dealers will
be supplied and the poor will get their
fuel at the uniform price of 40 cents a
bushei when they carry it home. or IS
cents bushel for delivery normal dis
tances.
Considerable diff1culty is being ex-
perienced at the dumps today in get
ting cars unloaded. A large part of the
rives and will not dump. Fires have to
be built under the cars to thaw out the
coal or il has to be unloaded by hand.
Labor to do this has been scarce for
some time, and in weather like that of
today 1t is almost impossible to hire
extra men.
The federal fuel administration last
night send out orders to all state adj
including John L. Weaver,
administrator for the District of Column
bia. to speed up the unloading Of cars.
Consignees are asked to have cars
unloaded promptly, even If they have
to work nights. Sundays and holidays.
Washington dealers today were pre-
pairing for the fullest possible coTnp1i-
ance with this order and were seeking
additional men to put to work at their
dumps. There will be no suspension
of unloading operations so long as it
is possible to get men TO do the work.