Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-01
ENOUGH SOFT COAL
FOR ALL DEMANDS
Ignoring Holiday, Dealers
Rushing Wagon Loads
Throughout the City.
HARD COAL ARRIVING

| There is soft coal in Washington to-
day to supply all demands, according
to John L. Weaver. federal fuel ad-
| ministrator for the District OF Co
lumbia. Ignoring the holiday. coal
dealers have every team at work for
which drivers could be obtained and
coal is moving out as rapidly as 1t can
be handled.
Mr. Weaver this informing visited the
big railroad dump at list and NJ streets
northeast and found not only an ample
supply of soft coal. but what amounted
almost to congestion OF delivery
service.
Wagons were being loaded and moved
out as rapidly as they could be weighed
on the several scales. and a constant
stream OF other wagons was arriving,
not only those of dealers from all parts
of the city, but many private convey
ances which had been hired by coalless
citizens. Equally busy scenes were en-
acted at the other big railroad dump in
South Washington.
Hard Coal Situation Improving.
Mr.. Weaver said the situation with
respect to hard coal was improving
steadily. Three cars of anthracite
reached the city yesterday consigned to
Administrator Weaver. Two were of
stove size and one of nut The larger
part of this coal will be distributed to
dealers who sell to the poor by the
bushel, and the same policy will be fol-
lowed with future shipments arriving
Sc Jnft af$ 10
bushel trade has been supplied viii be
passed out through the distributing Of
fee at 1903 street.
The rule will be, Mr. Weaver said. to
heating plants will not burn soft coal sue
cessfully. Houses heated with latrobes
will have first call, and next will come
those who depend on hot air furnaces.
which by reason of their construction or
because of defects allow gas and smoke
to escape into the heating pipes Some
hot air furnaces, 1t has been found. viii
burn soft coal successfully aud others will
not Orders for hard coal will not he
issued to those who have steam OF hot
water heating plants until these other
needs have been supplied.
Arrivals Of Coal Yesterday.
The fuel administration reports that 81
cars of hard coal, amounting to 2,523 tons,
and 80 cars Of bituminous. of 1885 tons.
increase is due in part to the fact that
! the previous day was Sunday. Receipts OF
coal for the month of December UP to
o'clock yesterday morning were as fol-
lows: Anthracite. 1,417 cars. 53,717 tong;
bituminous. 919 cars. 1870 tons.
"Zone System" Disapproved.
Mr.. Weaver said today he did not regard
the establishment of zone system for de-
livering coal as practical under the situa-
No orfiQ irnr in a iner
In normal times" said Mr.. Weaver.
dealers who have yards in parts Of the
city not reached by the railroads cart the
coal from the railroad dumps and from
| there distribute it to their trade This
involves double hauling to considerable
extent, but most Of 1t Is done in the sum-
| mer. when stocks Of coal are accumulated
by dealers for winter delivery. AS the
situation is today there are no stocks Of
coal in these yards removed from the rail-
roads
and get their coal and deliver it direct to
consumers. Though q dealer with a yard
In Northwest Washington may take an
order to deliver coal in the southwest. no
extra haul is involved. for the coal is de-
livered direct from the dump to the con-
sumner. II any cross-hauling of conse-
quence was being done public necessity
| would require that it be stopped. but my
Investigations have disclosed that this is
not the case"
Another Suggestion Discussed.
Numerous suggestions have reached
Mr.. Weaver that during the existing
emergency theaters and other places
the heating of churches be reduced
largely through the holding of union
services. Such action. Mr.. Weaver
holds. would not relieve the shortage
from which Washington is sure-ing.
The churches and amusement places.
the fuel administration said, are heat
ed with soft coal, Of which there is no
serious =. scarcity + the aecessity
SUFFICIENT to meet the demand. and more
Is in sight.
A number. of criticisms have been
made Of the fact that the big Billy
Sunday tabernacle will during the next
six or seven weeks consume much coal
Mr.. Weaver said that the committee in
charge Of the Sunday meetings sixty
days ago bought fifty tons of coal for
heating the tabernacle, and he assumes
delivery already has been made.
Statement Of the Committee.
Oficials of the Sunday campaign
committee point out that the govern
ment's attitude on the propriety and
| convenience of holding the campaign
| vance. and the answer was. go ahead;
| religious activities are not to be cur
tailed in war time; in fact. might well
| be amplified."
| Further. they point out that the en-
! gagement was made. arrangements
| started and the tabernacle begun be-
| fore the coal shortage here became
acute. and while it still looked as if 1t
might shortly be solved THE churches
are not being closed" states DR..
Walker, Sundays advance man. why
| should the tabernacle. which amplifies
| and strengthens the churches, not take
a chance too, for that is all that is
being done? We have no big pile laid
! UP in advance: we're getting it in
quantities sufficient to go along, and
| that is all. and it's soft coal, at that"
| The tabernacle may not burn as much
| coal as people imagine. It is heated
by twelve big egg stoves sunk in sand
| pits. These are to be fired up well. but
| not too well. by the custodian, who is
a. heating expert. before the crowd
| comes in to each service Then the
| fires will be allowed to die down and
| the heat of the vast crowd keeps the
| temperature approximately the same
until the adjournment.
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