Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-25
WOOD FOR COAL
Urged Wherever Pos
sible in Waterville by
Public Safety and De-
Tense Committee

States in which there are large guam
titles of wood available for fuel are
likely to find that in the allotment of
coal the question Of the wood supply
will be taken into consideration by the
National Fuel Administration and that
precedence in coal shipments will be
given to states in which there are no
considerable supplies of fuel wood.
The ways and means committee of
the Waterville and Winslow commit
tee of Public Safety and Defense at
their meeting Monday afternoon voted
that this question Of the supply CT
wood as effecting the allotment of coal
by the government authorities shout
be strongly emphasized. The matter
was presented to the committee by
George x. Boutelle, the local fuel con-
servator under The federal administra-
! ton. Mr.. Boutelle told the committee
of the situation in Maine. He made it
plain that there is urgent necessity for
economy in the use of coal and the
substitution of wood for coal wherever
possible. John 3. Friel. chairman of
the fuel committee told of information
which had come to the committee con-
corning the shortage of fuel in this
locality
The following resolutions offered by
Mr.. Boutelle were then adopted:
Resolved, That it is the duty of this
committee to emphasize strongly the
fact that states in which no wood is
available for fuel are likely to he given
precedence in forwarding new supplies
of coal: and that therefore the people
of this community must depend chief
| hnr SaIt- A. -,
listing shortage Of fuel
Resolved: That the following recon-
mendations be adopted and given full
publicity in the name of this commit
tee:
That all use Of coal not Immediately
essential to the manufacturing. bust
ness and domestic needs of the COM
munity be suspended;
That all essential uses of coal be
made as carefully and economically as
possible with a view to the conserva-
ton Of existing stocks
| That every effort be made by pro-
ducers as well as by consumers to in
crease and conserve the supply of fuel
wood and that its use be substituted
! in all possible cases for the use of
coal to the end that actual distress
during the present winter may be
avoided and a still greater shortage
during next winter may be averted.
The question of saving coal by
lengthening the vacations of the
schools then came up and the atten-
| ton of the committee was called to
the fact that vacations have been
Heightened in other Maine cities. 1t was
also pointed out that in many cities
If the state the High schools hold but
one session day. 1t was stated that
the adoption of the single session plan
in the Waterville High school might be
the means of effecting a considerable
saving of coal.
! Messrs. Bouteile and Friel were ap-
pointed committee to confer with the
school board OF ths matter of extending
the winter vacation and making the sug-
gestive change in High school sessions.
! Fred w. Clair, speaking as chairman OF
the local committee in charge of the cam
paign for the sale of war savings STAMPS.
asked for an expression of the ways and
means committees support OF that en-
deavor and a resolution was adopted
pledging the committee to the encourage
ment of the undertaking. The local COM
mittee in charge of the campaign has
been appointed by the State director ann
IN addition to Mr.. Clair, the chairman.
consists OF Arthur Daviau. c. f. B. Walk
er, George Weed and H. B. Holland
Consideration was given BY the ways
and means committee at this meeting to
the question of holding public meetings
Tor the purpose Of discussing questions
arising in connection with the war The
plan suggested is that of the open forum.
which has proved Of great public benefit
as an education force in other commun
ties. The matter was referred to the sub
committee on publicity.