Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-10
COAL SITUATION
IN DELAWARE
As Supply is Curtailed Fuel Al
ministrator Wants Co opera
ton of Public.

The Anthracite Distributing Commit
tee of the L. 5. Fuel Administration
recently announced the allotment of
anthracite coal to Delaware for the COM
ing wear. These figures were the sub
iect of discussion at meeting of the
Delaware State Organization of the Fuel
Administration, held in the du Pont
Building Friday, and the State Board
authorized the following statement is
sued for the information of the public.
These are the first figures or statistics
which have been issued ny the State
Board. and contain some interesting ~
formation regarding the coal situation
last winter
The figures rs compiled by the An
thraclte Committee show that III the
fiscal coal wear l9l6-l7. there were ship
ped 223, sos tons of domestic sizes To
Delaware. and IN proportion To the estl-
mated production OF anthracite coal Tor
this wear, they have allotted to this state
an increase of 10 per cent over these
figures, namely. 2i5.S53 tons, which IN
the opinion of the State Board is not
sufficient to take care of the necessary
demands. unless some restrictions are
put upon certain classes OF consumers.
I'm presenting our figures to the An
we believed were the minimum quantities
necessary. we asked for 267 .9OD tons OF
domestic sizes. making difference be
tween this amount and that which was
allotted TO us of - 053 tons which means
an absolute shortage, even II We were Ia
receive every ton that has been allotted.
This shortage will he felt more kCcniy
in Wilmington and the territory adjacent
thereto, owing to the abnormal popula-
ton incident to the war Industries located
in this section. As an illustration Of
this increased demand, II may be stated
that Wilmington received in the fiscal
year 1ql6-l7. an approximately normal
year. lf0,S3l tons OF domestic sizes.
while in the wear l9i1-lS It received
~. $50 tons. Although increased pop
ulation docs rot necessarily mean IN
creased coal consumption. vet We have
confronting us the fact of an abnormal
number Of new homes to he erected III
Wilmington this year by the u. 5. govern
nent and individual enterprises, amount
ing TO at least | 900 houses. which does
not requirc much explanation TO con
vince anyone OF an increased consumption.
BrruMrNoUs A. SUBSTITUTE.
"As this shortage represents about
s per cent Of the estimated requirements
of this State, II Is therefore necessary 10
look Ia the use of bitaImInous coal 10 take
its place. and as 1t Is the desire Of Wash
ington, as we'll rs ourselves that domestic
consumption should At all times have
first call upon anthracite coal, We believe
that if all factories, public buildings and
stores which have been accustomed TO
using anthracite coal will, wherever
possible. change II btuminous coal,
that the needs Of domestic consumers
can be met, providing that We receive
the entire tonnage rs allotted
The people of Delaware must bear
in mind that these are war times, and
thai the eastern section of the country
is bound to feel the effect of the war much
more forcibiy, owing to the vast number
o. war industry plants IN tins section,
thereby creating q transportation CON
ditl0n which is almost impossible for
the railroads to overcome.
in order that domestic consumers
ma, have the first preference to the
available coal supply, it was deemed wise
that every dealer within the state be
notified that no orders of domestic sizes
of anthracite coal for factories, public
buildings or stores should be filed until
such times as ali domestic orders have
been cared for, and no deviation from
TINS order VIII he permitted. unless per
mission nrst is obtained from the member
of the State Board for the district
1T mas been brought TO the attention
OF the board that dealers are being de
IayeG in the delivery Of their orders
numerically, due To the scarcity OF stove
Size, which condition is caused by the
vast quantities Of this size coal which
are used BY the Government at the
yario1ys army camDS and capt0nmcntS
Therefore. il becomes necessary that
cans1IIners viii have to accept other
SIZES. principally egg coal, which can b
used. in most insta ces. without any
inconvenience.
This same condition applies somewhat
to the chestnut size, and the committee
feels that the public VIII not only be aid
ing the dealer to make deliveries in the
order In which they are placed, but viii
assist the government as well by accept
ing, when necessary, that size which
next best suits their needs, rather than
insisting upon a particular size.