The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-19
MUST PREPARE
TO BURN WOOD
Vermont's Coal Allotment
Not Big Enough to
Meet Needs
EVERY TOWN SHOULD
HAVE A WOOD YARD
State Fuel Administrator H. ]. NJ Jones
Paints Gloomy Picture of Next Win
ter's Outlook-364,O 600 Tons of An
thracite Apportioned to State.
Especial to The Reformer.)

Especial to The Reformer)
MONTPELIER, June 49,
Predicting a winter of suffering in
Vermont unless radical measures are
taken to remedy the fuel situation and
recommending the establishment Of
municipal woodyards in every commun-
ity as solution of the difficulty, II. J.
| NJ. Jones, state fuel administrator, gave
an extended interview yesterday. He
said that Vermont apportionment of
anthracite coal for the coming year was
364 900 tons whereas the state 3 con-
sumption last year was approximately
100000 tons. The size of Vermont IS al
lotment he said, was based on the dis
tributing committee s knowledge that
this state had few industries working
on 100 per cent war production, had de-
creased in population by reason of the
draft and that wood was obtainable as
substitute fuel. Here is the interview
in detail:
''Mr Jones, what is the prospect OF
coal supply for Vermont
Shipments of coal into Vermont are
not encouraging. The United States
fuel administration has estimated the
maximum output of anthracite coal for
the coal year beginning April /, 1918
This has been apportioned to the sew
eral states, Vermont IS allotment being
1854, 900 net tons of domestic sizes for
industrial and domestic purposes. This
allotment is, approximately per cent
above the governments figures of ship
ment during the coal year of 1916
During the winter of 1915 and 1916
the Vermont dealers purchased heavily
and received an increased amount of
coal in anticipation of the threatened
strike on April l, 1916, so that, at that
date, the coal dealers had large stock
of coal on hand and did not urge ship
ments pntil ahe following winter when
a scarcity of coal began to prevail in
Vermont. a large demand was then
made on the mines from all over the
country and continued until April l.,
1917. On the demands made only enough
coal was received to relieve immediate
needs, so that commencing April !, 1917,
there were no stocks of coal in the
hands of dealers or in the bins of con
sumers.
"None of us will forget the winter
of l9l719lS and all will agree that If
was ease of hand to mouth during the
entire year with no chance whatever to
lay in stock
1.-The basis of distribution for the
present year, as decided by the United
States fuel administration, is the ton
mage of coal shipped during the coal
year of 1916 and not the tonnage re-
eeIved during that year. According to
reports from dealers in the state they
received in the coal year of 1916 nearly
$4,000 net tons and according to a
conservative estimate they had on hand
at the beginning of the coal year APP
proximately $4,000 tons, or total of
$4,000 net tons was consumed in the
coal year of 1916. l say consumed be-
cause there was no stock on hand April
LIST, 1917. Another report received from
the dealers shows that they received
during the coal year of 1917 over AGO.
600 net tons, and as the first of last
April was such a short time ago no one
forgets that as fast as coal was re-
ceived it was peddled out in / or IL
ton lots, so that Jon April l, 1918, we
again started coal year. with empty
bins and no accumulated stock
Gas it is difficult for us to obtain
data of shipments and as the Washing
ton figures are based ON shipments
whereas our figures are based on re-
ceipts, there is a discrepancy between
the figures compiled by our office and
those furnished by Washington The
reports of receipts in our Office show
that we consumed ZOO net tons dur
ing the coal year 1916 and 100000 net
tons during the coal year of 1917. Oul
estimate of the stock on hand April
1916 may be tco low, but we all know
that we consumed more coal this last
winter on account of the severity of the
weather than during the previous win
!, ter.
II you compare our consumption fol
the past two years with our allotment
! OF 364 900 tons for this year, you will
/ be convinced that it is not a pleasant
a outlook and that some radical measur,
I must be put into effect at once if suffer
{ Jung IN Vermont is to be avoided during
the coming winter
THE Anthracite Coal Distributing
9committee, whose offices are in Philadel
1phia, is composed of practical coal men
\ conscientious, broad and fair minded
and of exceptional ability After hav
l ing given the matter their most careful
consideration they determined the quot:
!. Ito be allowed och state. They know
a that Vermont does not have a larg
number of industries working on TO-
t per cent war work and they feel that O,
account of the draft and on account O
mon Lon vino for yynrk in 20
! tories in other states, Vermont has de
). creased in population; and they ais
v feel that, living in state where WOO,
5. is obtainable, our quota should be re
: duced.
l. "We all realize that we must BEN
l. every energy in every direction an,
is make supreme sacrifices to assist tn
government at this critical time. TIL