The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-14
RAILROADS GIVEN
PREFERENCE OVER
PLANTS FOR COAL
riority List Announced
by Fuel Chief, Work
ing With War Board.
ELABORATE PLAN
Government Will Learn
Needs Of Manufacture
ers and Household
ers. Then Supply.

Washington, June 13.--The fuel
administration today announced it's
coal distribution plan.
Working In conjunction with the
war industries board. a dual priority
list has been arranged and the au-
thority of state administrators clearly
defined. The initial priority list.
which excerpts domestic consumers,
shows the following classificauons;
I. Railroads.
2. Army and navy. together with
other departments of the federal gov
eminent
3. state and county departments
and institutions.
4. Public utilities.
Is. Retail dealers.
6. Manufacturing plants on war
industries board preference list
I. Manufacturing plants not ON
war industries board preference list
The second priority list, which I'm
reality Is the preference list of the
war industries hoard. il an eiaeorasefS
planned system wherein the govern
,nent viii learn the complete needs
,of every plant of consequence in the
country and the necessity of each for
coal
The list OF consumers entitled TO
.rrefererce will be obtained by ques-
ittonnairs sent to every manufacturing
plant using more than 500 tons an
lnuaily In this manner representa-
al A.-7tv, szfr "a
1.-The producing regions and later the
fstate and local fuel administrators will
he able TO give particular attention TO
shuildfng proper stocks of coal at all
essential war plants
Each manufac curing plant in turn
will be required to submit weekly
report on the amount of coal used and
for what purpose.
In order to control the distribution
iof coal TO domestic consumers and In
,dustrial plants by retail dealers. the
dealers will be required TO make spe-
cial reports TO state fuel admintstra-
tors and from these reports deliv-
cries to manufacturing plants not on
the preference list can be curiailed
when necessary. =.
Under this plan of distribution.
said the announcement, each con-
lsumer should arrange for shipments
from the same source of supply as last
wear. If possible. If diversion of coal
FOR the war program or the coming
system will not permit this the con-
sumner shoVd make every effort to
form new connections, preferably un-
der a contract arrangement wherever
a. supply is available before calling on
the state fuel administrators for as
sistance.
Weekly reports to the state ana
United States fuel administrations Will
show the actual shipments OF coal to
the various classifcations of indus
tries.
THE plan is designed to fix def
nitely the responsibility and authority
of state fuel administrators. 1t pro-
Vides for complete system of reports.
for interchange of information be-
tween consumers OF coal. state fuel
administrators. district representatives
and the United States fuel admins
tration.
Complete lists of the industries in
every community in every state will be
available as soon as the reports are
compiled"
Through information gathered from
the missionaries and actual inspec-
ton of plants with a view of recon-
mending economies the fuel admins
tration hopes to effect a saving OF
approximately 2o,oo0,o0o tons this