The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-09
COAL PROSPECTS GLOOMY.
NO IMPROVEMENT IN Srru.
TION, SAYS ADMINS
TRAITOR
Nif' Eossett Issues Statement Explain.
ing Conditions and Urging Economy
in Use Of Fuel.


from the coal fields of Tennessee. r
B. Gossett, fuel administrator for
South Carolina, gave out the follow.
ing statement:
Inc coal situation shows no inn.
provement and the outlook for the
immediate future is not encouraging.
Inc trouble seems to be mainly a
transportation problem. The railroads
are only furnishing the mines OF East
tennessee about 60 per cent Of thar
norman car supply and an average of
approximately Is per cent. Of the coal
loaded is used for railroad fuel. Th.
oaiance is not sufficient to take care
OF the normal requirements OF indus-
'ries' domestic consumers, ETC.. let
alone the many munition plants. armv
cahtonments and other government
industries, which, OF course. must be
supplied. -,
Eevn with the reduced number op
cars oeing loaded the railroads ara
unable to move coal with ANYTHING
IKE reasonable dispatch In point of
TACT, hundreds of cars of coal haya
oeeh TIED up at various functional
points and on sidings in Kentucky.
tennessee and Georgia for the mas.
several weeks due tc embarsoes yacl
or motive power on the part of the
railroads and for various other causes.
The railroads are daily COMPLAIN.
ing to this office CT unnecessary and
useless delays in Ire unloading of
coal In this State. Likewise a few CON.
sumers complain that the railroads
are slow to move cars from chutes or
s1dings after they are unloaded.
1T is earnestly hoped that the pub
lie will do their part in this matter
by promptly unloading all coal cars
and by notifying this office Of anv
delay on the part OF the railroads in
moving cars after they are unloaded.
THE fullest possible coopera.
ton is necessary on the part of all
the people of South Carolina and a.
soon as the weathe- moderates. IL 4,
up TO every community to lay in a
supply OF emergency wood. The littlc
wood that is available in most sec.
tions of the State is selling at ex-
oroitant prices. which can not be
overcome except through he estab-
lishment Of municipal wood yards.
wood for these yards should prefera-
bly, be cut and hauled by convict "a.
DOR but if this is noe possible teams
OF patriotic citizens should be or.
ganized for this purpose. III
1T would be nothing short of a
crime to permit the women and chill
dren to suffer for lacls of fuel so long
as there are enough ablebodied men
IN this State to WELD an axe. Wood
thus accumulated should be sold at
absolute cost. especially to the poor.
This office is doing everything
within its power to relieve the situa-
ton and will continus' to do so, bur
the people must understand that the
outlook is gloomy. and that 1t is up
to every patriotic citizen in South
Carolina to do his bit.
ITO relieve critical conditions this
office has been diverting carloads OF
coal during the past few days from,
industrial plants. especially cotton
mills. located in different sections Of
the State. The cars diverted have
been for cities and municipalities
where conditions have been most
acute. The fuel admin strator real
ICES the diversion Of coal from indus.
trial plants is serious matter and
should only be done in extreme cases.
1t will be his effort not to take a
large amount of coal from any single
concern or industry. but it is his pur-
pose to protect the homes in severe
weather even il it is necessary to tenn.
porarily close down industries.
THE dealers, . nun ipalities and
others calling upon the fuel adminis-
traitor to divert coal for them should
bear in mind the fact that the closing
Of industrial plants will work hard.
ships on thousands of people, who
might be thrown out OF employment.
For this reason, they are asked to
weigh carefully conditions that exist
with them and conditions that might
be brought about with the industrial
plans before deciding I'd make re-
quisitions on the fuel administrator
for diversions of coal"