Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10
'INSTRUCTS LOCAL
FUEL COMMITTEES
State Administrator Asks for
Survey of Coal Situation
in All Towns.

has been sent by the State fuel admins
traitor to the local fuel committees show.
ing that the different organizations are
cooperating in conservation of fuel.
Montpelier, VT, Jan 3, 1918.
To Member of Local Fuel Committees,
Bears Sirs:-
BY our request, the commissioner of ed.
ucation has wired the district superintend.
dents of Vermont to arrange a postpone.
ment until January H. 1913, of the open
ing of the winter terms of such schools
as are conducted In coal-heated buildings
SO as to save fuel to meet the stringency
which will be more acute later than now
In all probability there may be a few
instances in the State where such post.
ponement will be inadvisable on account
Of lateness in opening Of fall term or fol
some other reason. You are therefore re.
quested to confer with the local school
board for the purpose Of determining
in regard to each case Of urgency of non.
postponement that may arise and to ad.
wise accordingly.
In view of the prospective shortage OF
coal for next year, you are also request.
ed to confer with the local school board
relative to the production of supply
of wood which may be used as a whole
or as partial substitute for coal fol
heating school buildings during the com.
Ing school year.
The churches, fraternal organizations
clubs, playhouses and places of amuse.
ment are putting forth commendable ef
forts to assist the government in it's war.
winning campaign by effecting a marked
reduction in the amount of coal consumed
But it is apparent that more can be done
along this line than has yet been accom-
plished.
While it is not desired that religious ser
vices should be suspended. still 1t is hop
ed that in the present world tragedy mere
denominationalism may be periodically
subordinated to cooperative Christianit,
and that out Of it unnecessary expendi
ture in the maintenance Of all needles,
church ediflces may be avoided and 6
vital and enduring Christian fellowship
may be established
| The district superintendent of thu
Methodist Episcopal Church have ISSUED
general letter to the churches under
their charge advising them to cooperate
J in the fuel saving campaign; four Of the
Protestant Churches of st. Adams have
closed their edifices and are uniting ir
services in the Bellevue picture house
and in many other places praiseworthy
efforts are employed by churches in order
to save coal
! Although the various clubs and frater
nal organizations have evidently resortet
to definite measures for the reduction Of
coal used in keeping their assembly--ant
ante-rooms warm for social purposes, still
few instances are reported in which
proper consideration Of the coal shortage
has not been given. Coal used merely fol
keeping club and smoking rooms warn
| WI for iol In,
unnecessary waste Of fuel.
Coal used for heating some playhouse.
can be saved by the substitution of wood
and in all communities In which play.
houses are operated coal can be saved b,
a reduction in the number Of nights or
which the playhouses are kept open. II
some instances an afternoon and an eve
ming presentation can be given rather thar
presentations on two successive nights.
Coal heated pool rooms and places Of
amusement should not be kept open dur
| ing the winter months, unless wood l.
used for heating purposes.
While the amount Of coal used in Yer
mont in heating saloons is negligible still
it is the most needless Of any waste.
Therefore each local fuel committee
in view Of the obvious shortage of Goa
for next year, is urged to make a genera
|
Of determining in what ways coal can b,
profitably saved by reduction in heatint
public and semi-public buildings and re
sorts.
CUT-A-CORD.
On account Of the dearth of farm labo
the farmers in many towns are unable I,
produce the amount of wood they woult
be glad to furnish village people and, ii
| ho To-
directly compelled to pay for the dearth
To meet the situation each local fue
committee should organize the villag
people into a cooperative "Cut- Cord
campaign. Coal will surely be scarce mex
year; the farmers can not procure com
petent labor: hence the supply of fue
for next year Is chiefly a local problem
and 1t Is incumbent upon coal-using vii
lage people to consider the means b,
which they will supply themselves.
While the farmers are indisposed t
trust inexperienced village boys will
teams or axes nevertheless the higl
school boys in many villages could profit
ably employ their Saturdays in helplnl
the farmers by limbng out trees, cuttinl
brush, drawing cross-cut saws. and split
ting wood. Farmers with wood lots O
those who can conveniently procure WOO
Tor 1uel should not uepenu on coal, an
all local fuel committees are hereby di
rected to prevent, so far as 1t can con
sistently be done, all substitution of Goa
, for wood on the part Of those who cal
easily procure wood.
On December 81, Frank Jenkins Of Eas
Burke, "A years of age. began to cut hi
, 74th cord Of wood this winter.
Posters for boiler rooms and reminder
in regard to economy In the use of Goa
in ranges and furnaces have been furnish
, ed you for posting and distribution: label
for coal shovels have been distributed b.
the department of education; the Ne,
England fuel administrator has sent "Cut
a-Cord" pastors throughout the State.
, Hoping that you will bring the tAe
problem directly, cogently and effectivel
to the consciousness Of your people. re
mai- II. j. NJ. JONES,
VI. Fuel Administrator