Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-06-20
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS TINES THURSDAY
CUT WOOD FOR
NEXT WINTER NOW
Fuel Administrator Warns That
Vermont Will Not Get Enough
Coal to Give Every One a Full
Quota and Advises Municipal
Wood Yards

The coal and wood situation In Vermont
is not at all gratifying to II. j. M. Jones.
the State fuel administrator. who feels
that drastic methods will have to be used
shortly to got the people to wake up to |
the situation. They appear to think there |
will be plenty Of coal this winter. but he |
recalls to their minds that one year ago |
now he urged them to get wood. II they |
had, a shortage of fuel would not have |
been experienced last winter. When in |
quiry was made of Mr.. Jones as to the
prospect of coal supply for Vermont the
fuel administrator said:
equipments of coal into Vermont are
not encouraging. The United States Fuel
Administration has estimated the maxi
mum output Of anthracite coal for the
coal year beginning April 1. 1913. This has
been apportioned to the several States.
vermonts allotment being 364.00 net tons
Of domestic sizes for industrial mad do
| mestic purposee. This allotment is ap-
proximately four per cent. above the gov
ernment's figures Of shipment during the
| coal year Of 1915
During the winter of 1915 and 1915 the
Vermont dealers purchased heavily and
received an increased amount Of coal in
|
April 1. 1915. so that. at that date. the
coal dealers had Q large stock Of GOAL on
hand and did not urge shipments until
the 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 I, 1917 On the demands made only
enough coal was received to relieve imme-
diate needs. 40 that commencing April l,
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
ls17-1sis and all will agree that it was
case Of hand to mouth during the entire
year with no chance whatever to lay in
stock.
THE basis Of distribution for the
present year. as decided by the United
States Fuel Administration, is the tonnage
Of coal shipped during the coal year Of
1916 and not the tonnage received during
that year. According to reports from deal
ers In the State they received in the coal
year Of 1916 nearly $4,000 net tons and ac-
cording to conservative estimate they
had on hand at the beginning of the coal
year approximately 5000 tons. or a total
of $4,000 net tons was consumed in the
coal year of 1916. Z say consumed because
| i, &.
Another report received from the dealers
shows that they received during the coal
year Of 1917 over 10000 net tons. and as
the first Of last April was such a short
} time ago no one forgets that as fast as
, coal was received 1t was peddled out in
, one or one-half ton lots. so that on April
! l. 1918, we again started a coal year with
empty bins and no accumulated stock.
"As 1t is difficult for US to obtain data
Of shipments and as the Washington
. figures are based on shipments whereas
, our figures are based on receipts, there is
a. discrepancy between the figures
, compiled by our office and those furnished
, by Warrington. The reports of receipts
|, In our office show that we consumed 49,.
900 net tons during the coal year 1916 and
10000 net tons during the coal year OF
1917. Our estimate Of the stock on hand
|. April 1. 1916. may be too low but we al
: know that We consumed moro coal this
last winter on account of severity Of thu
; weather than during the previous win
ter.
III you compare our consumption fol
: the last two years with our allotment OF
. $4,000 tons for this year. you will be
convinced that it is not a pleasant out.
look and that some radical measure
must be put into effect at once II suffer.
ing in Vermont 10 to be avoided during
the coming winter.
1.-The Anthracite Coal Distributing Com
: mittee. whose offices are in Philadelphia
is composed Of practical coal men. con
r soientous. broad and fair minded ant
o Of exceptional ability. After having
given the matter their most careful con
sideration they determined the quota 4
be allowed each State. They know tina
r Vermont does not have a large numbe
= | nf Ind utv@o
/. war work and they feel that on accoun
;. of the draft and on account Of mel
u leaving for work in munition factorie
}. in other States, Vermont has decrease
:. in population: and they also feel that
. living in a State where wood IL obtain
! able. our quota should be reduced.
II We all realize that we must ben
y every energy in every direction and max
j. supreme sacrifices to assist the govern
l. mont at this critical time. The fut
office cannot shoulder the fuel respon
e sibility alone and we feel that the citi
J. Gems of the State should know the tru
10 situation so that they may prepare t
It meet conditions next winter. In previou
It years we could secure local by an extr
Ie effort on the part of the dealers VIII
could 60 to the coal centers and pur
lie chase; to- day money will not buy NOR
ID than our quota, and. whatever tn
ID amount of our shortage. It must be mad
ID up with wood.
II would suggest that every town
1t the State open up municipal wood var,
l. regardless of whether or not its chartt
ID provides for it. Instead Of buildin
n roads would use the employees for cut
rs ting wood and would do It now.
there is any municipality that hesitate
es on account Of its charter, would forge
D. the charter until January l and the
to have 1t amended by the Legislature b
ct giving to the municipality the right (
a. operate a municipal wood yard. But
n. the meantime. the municipality shoul
cut wood as II will be too late II the GU
ting is put off until the Legislatu,
meets. These are not normal times ar
my advice to you Is cut your wood, the
obtain the authority.
" There has been some criticism of I,
u slogan Order Your Coal Now on accou,
40 of consumers not being able to secu
" It; but It Is absolutely essential TIL
o every one who expects to use coal shou
as place his order at once so that our ON,
IL may obtain data as to the amount
nc coal required for the year. After ha,
e. ing received this data we can 'dete