The Washington times., 1918-01-10
WEAVER EXPLAINS
COAL SHORTAGE TO
HOUSE COMMITTEE

crease IN tne shipments OF COAi 10
the capital, this increase has not kept
pace with the enhanced demand.
Near HaIf-MIIIiOn Mark.
| Washington is now q city with q
population verging toward the half
million mark. This was the estimate
put on It by Mr.. Weaver, who 10 an
experienced real estate man. He de-
cIared the population had increased
20 per cent since the last census. that
| the police census In his opinion did
not disclose the true conditions and
that he believed the population today
was 420, 1000.
with the arrival OF more people
and the increased consumption by
apartment houses. hotels. public util-
ity plants, and the Government, ar.
Weaver held there had been extraor-
binary demands which. In spite OF the
fact more coal came in. could not be
met.
Unable 70 Say.
Mr.. Weaver was unable to say,
however, just to what extent the
shipments Of coal to Washington had
Increased In 1917 over the preceding
year.
In the course OF his testimony he
Absolved the Washington coal dealers
of responsibility for the shortage
and from alleged profiteering.
He did not try to conceal the fact
there is a shortage and suffering.
NOT olo ne hoio OUT nope OF renet.
SN, .oiu the .II tnat WIN ' .ns
be niaces an = coaI-caId hSsis nj.
rect purchaSes by eonSumers from
49,, -, ,t.I.ota,, ~.
oninion and hsx. 5000 - h.in en-,
trIhut1 - ths shorts1. us ..,tr,st.d
cosI .hinrents wsre about / noo tons
Ie1s daIiv than needed
NJ W.sv.r a. No. at.oto.a5 &.
bainI.ss a. ,sr a. 1sttins col ShIn,.S
=, Wa.LS.-,a S IL
business is Distributes after the coal
Erni:,,,, III. ala.
tenn, dr. weaver said IL would begin
Snri, - - "'u Os"
'.The.. ..rd," h. .sid nv,,,, M, =.
A1 - ne S, VIII nor pc
~ nro,Sr,,, Esoh go p
Will he s.si1nea : 80 II dstsrin
ing the amount oT Anal 20 hs tn. a.
thorIxed n will n. nscsS.srv % ,sL.
into consIdsr.tio, ,hs Ioc.,to. :, a.
niso. ,a'Ls,L ~, ene ioon OF the
ronstructIon =, ~. Lo,,Hn a. ae
her ~ ner.on. dr.IISr q,
the amo1nt ~ co.I :, Re, n,.nion.i.,
taksn % 800 4,
Gan SaVe 70 Per Cent.
He estimate he could save 20 per
cent in coal consump tion. and ala 20
a MIN b.d h..r ,,.Ia 60.
Ins vould Su1rs.t tha, ths
with tweJv. ei0ns
better 10 producs sno,,sh 80 w
conSnr,Sr 1919 -. co1L SO the
Nh. eWaVer insisted large amounts
OF coal we're wasted through careless
nee Eno incompetence OF those who
eeno furnaces.
OescT1olng MS functions, Mr..
weaver salo:
TO see to the distribution of coal
AFTER II has been placed on the tracks |
IN washington"
he look charge about the middle of |
october.
where was the coal in washington |
At that tIme?" asked Senator Reed.
In the coal bins OF the citizen !
body, q large part of n. nInced ,here
In the summer month";" Answered Mr |
Weaver.
He said deaIeera than h.d I,,,I. .o.I
that there are about seyentv-ffve bi9
dealers here and many uttIe ones
that the big dealers do wboIsssIs and
retail busIneas
Mr.. Weaver said that .a-,v La,
sprInr local coal dsaIsr. So
1end o,,t cIrcuIars :" s,
warnJr1 ,h.n, 30 t., sis
~. p.sI E.t.,a $500 Ia saiu
,,r1.S a.-'.. 1870
49, - a.. h"u 10 lay IN
- az thAt ueiNeIles
ISL 10 tne people IN the
No Data on StoekA
Mr. Weaver told Oh. co,,n,I,,.s tho,
ho ,,a r1.hI. q - 80. -
49,. - 80 80 a"y ,a, On I
nrevIouG vears Sroro the Cal NJ
chants Association. On the other
hanu, the railroads cheerfully fur
hiSneo eAta as 70 shipments i
-, W Ton soIne ihonthS ago hao
''oOU empty houses anG mas prac-
-NaIiy none now ne Seio:
aSAeu u tug ueaIers mao contributed
u the coal Scarcity hr. weaver said:
iney nave not Ihey nave not
'oarueG'
Gar enortage ana less production at
mines were FACTORS according to Mr..
eaver. i
ne denied the dealers had made as
'nuch money this season out OF the
Aargin of $3.50 per ton which he al