The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-05-01
FITZGERALD ASKED TO
HELP IN COAL CRISIS

ue0s SIS WILL OubOfO
The following communication from
DR.. L. G. Hardman, Fuel Administra-
tor of Georgia, has been addressed to
the Mayor and Council of Fitzgerald
and is of vital interest to all residents
here:
To the Hon. Mayor and Council, City
of Fitzgerald.
Gentlemen:
The seriousness of the coal situa
ton as affecting domestic users is OF
such Importance that the cooperation
of your body will be necessary if the
hardships experienced last winter are
to be avoided dtrring the coming win
ter.
The zoning system ordered to be-
come effective on and after April LIST,
1918, provides that consumers of coal
in Georgia shall look to the producing
districts of eastern Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Virginia and Alabama for
their supply. The mines located in
these districts can fill the normal re-
quirements of Georgia consumers
provided the mines referred to are
kept running every day in the week,
and every week in the year and they
can be kept running on this schedule
only by the cooperation on the part
of our people in making their pur-
chase during the spring and sum-
mer.
l am gravely concerned over the
serious falling off of production in
the coal producing districts located
in the zone supplying Georgia con-
sumers, which falling off seems to
threaten a recurrence of conditions
experienced last winter. For, as
natural consequence, shortage of pro-
duction at one of the mines supplying
Georgia territory means just so much
,privation during the coming winter
months.
The failure of our people to enter
enthusiastically and periodically into
the policy of the administration to
buy during the spring and summer
months, has already caused short
age in production with which you and
| will have to reckon next winter.
There is just one solution, viz that
this shortage must be replaced by
wood.
In view of this situation have ap-
pointed wood fuel committee of
Judge T. A. Parker, of Waycross,
chairman, and Mr.. James B. Berry,
of the State College of Agriculture,
Athens, is secretary. This committee
will start wood fuel campaign to ex-
tend throughout the state at once, and
according to the program, viii hold a
meeting in your city during the prog
ress of the campaign.
The purpose of this letter primarily
is to ask that you consider the i'm
portance of establishing a municipal
wood yard, and it will be the business
OF the wood fuel committee to assist
you in perfecting your local-organiza-
ton. In this connection | suggest
that you do not defer action in this
matter until the meeting above re-
ferred to is held, but that you take
some action at once in order that your
sources of wood fuel supply during
the spring and summer months to the
end that your city may accumulate
large stock of wood during this Pc
Rod.
understand that the wood fuel
committee has already supplied the
local fuel administrator with suggest
ions and plans for the establishment
of municipal wood yards, and / am
sure that the local fuel administrator
will be glad to cooperate with you
and assist you in every way possible
toward the accomplishment of the
foregoing suggestion.
Yours very truly,
L. G. HARDMAN,
Fuel Administrator for GEORGIA.