The Washington times., 1918-05-21
COAL FOR NEXT /
WINTERS SUPPLY
COMING SLOWLY
ny BILL PRICE

Washington householders to\ the
/ number Of 1S,766 have placed oEters
| with Washington coal dealers AoT
/ 212.27T tons Of anthracite coal for
next winter, and John Weaver, thu
! local coal administrator, Is gratihed
at the tendency TO prepare in advance
for the rigors OF another cold season.
Mr.. Weaver has completed an in
vestigation OF the coal tonnage or
dered by Washingtonians since April
and the tonnage received BY the
coal dealers. who are only too anxious
TO deliver coal this summer that the
condition sof the last cold winter
may not prevail here again
1900 BuIIdInEs to Heat
Tax Assessor Richards has esti-
mated to Mr.. Weaver that there are
5000 buildings in Washington and
that $4,000 of them are used as dwell
ings. Almost one-third OF the house
holders Of the District have, there
fore, ordered coal between April 1
and May 20, when the figures were
completed.
There is q wide discrepancy, how
ever. between the orders booked by
the coal dealers and the tonnage re-
ceived by them between the two dates.
This tonnage was 69.031 Of anthracite,
the total tonnage orders booked by
them also being OF anthracite.
The figures, OF course, show that
the tonnage ordered is abnormal,
while the tonnage received is below
the normal upholding the contention
OF coal dealers that they are not re-
ceiving the supplies OF anthracite
necessary to keep up with the orders
for next winters fuel
Mr.. Weaver was today OF the opin-
ion that the number of orders will
decrease from now to September 1,
and that the receipts Of coal will in
crease 50 that before the summer is
ended the receipts will have been
sufficient to equal the orders that
viii have been placed
Mr.. Weaver can see a great lessen
ing Of difficulties for the public, him
self and the coal dealers II the far
sightedness OF Washington people in
ordering for next winter can be aided
by the delivery before September 1
OF the orders that have been and win
be placed.
Some OF the tonnage ordered has
been By the Washington Gas Light
company, which uses considerable an
thraeite, and which Is trying TO accu-
mulate 4 reserve before winter. Di-
viding the total number OF household
ers who have placed orders by the
tonnage ordered the average IS some
thing over eleven tons to the house
holder, allowing 4 supply OF several
thousand tons 70 the gas light com
pany.
Mr.. Weaver urges manufacturing
establishments, hotels, and concerns
using large amounts Of bituminous
coal to place orders now and secure
delivery OF as much coal as possible
before winter. that the strain Of tans-
portation may be relieved In the win
ter season
The Question Of Payment
The question OF advance payments for
coal was recently discussed by several
Washingtonians with Fuel Administrator
Garfield and the latter was quoted as
saying that he did not approve OF this
Mr. Weaver has not issued any instruc-
tons on this point and may not do so.
He does not undertake to regulate the
dealings between consumers and sellers.
leaving that to those interested He be-
tieves that any citizen who has ordered
and paid for coal in advance will have
no difficulty in obtaining his deposit
from the dealer II he feels dissatisfied.
He does not believe that any dealer
would fail 10 keep his contract. not only
for reasons OF credit and honesty, but
for the punishment that would follow.
He would be liable to criminal prosecu-
ton and TO having his license revoked.
Customers whose credits are good
are not called upon by coal dealers
to deposit cash in advance. Il is said,
the dealer taking the usual risks that
90 with his business. The policies
Of dealers vary in accepting orders
from persons who are doubtful or
slow OF payment, just as in all lines
Of business. and there is no proba-
biIity that they will be called upon |
10 radically alter their relations with |
customers. Dealers and customers |
must work out these matters them |
selves, so far as the local fuel ad- |
nIniStFGtor u concerned.