The Washington herald., 1918-04-01
EARLY BUYING
ADVISED FOR
+ WINTER COAL
Fuel Administrator Out.
lines Plans Made to Pre-
vent Future Famines.

we begin the new coal year Of
1sis-l9 with an obligation resting upon
every citizen Of the United States to
do his part, in order that the coal
. supply Of the country may be made
adequate to meet the home needs of
our people and the ever-increasing de-
mands for coal for fuel which grow
out Of the conflict in which we are
now engaged.
The Fuel Administration must have
the support and the active co-opera-
ton. not only Of those who are en-
gagged I'm production and distribution
Of fuel. but OF every coal user in the
country, Each must bear his share
OF the patriotic sacrifice which must
be made II the coal supply Is to be
properly increased and adequately
distributed.
IAN adequate coal supply Is vital to
the winning Of the war. Without II
we cannot make munitions or other
war supplies or build the ships which
must carry men and materials to the
battle front without II industries
VIII be stopped, labor thrown out OF
employment and the homes Of the
people viii De cold
Guided by the experience Of the
past winter the Fuel Administration
has taken the necessary steps to clear
the way for the ceaseless activity Of
the mines OF the country in increasing
the supply and for the steady, swift
distribution Of the nations fuel as
rapidly as Il can be taken from the
ground and moved over our overbur-
dened transportation systems.
The prices fixed by the government
for coal at the mine have now been
established on q stable foundation
which will not be disturbed during
the coming coal year. except in case
OF extraordinary urgency. These
prices have been adjusted by sclen-
tific and practical investigation based
upon uniform cost sheet reports to in
sure the greatest possible stimulation
OF production while maintaining a
reasonable and equitable price Of coal
to the consumer.
New Regulations.
by carefully drawn regulations the
Fuel Administration has insured the
shipment Of clean coaI'' from the
mines. Coal containing an undue
amount Of foreign matter will be PEN
allied in price, and PRODUCERS who
take extraordinary measures in the
preparation of their coal will be
recompensed. These measures will
keep on the railroads and out Of the
bins Of the consumers q large amount
OF unburnable material which was in
clpded in last years coal production.
Every EFFORT has, been made by the
Fuel Administration to SO arrange the
distribution of the coal supply that It
will impose the least possible burden
upon the railroads Of the country.
Through the zone system Of distribu-
tion, which becomes effective April /,
the movement Of bituminous coal be-
tween the mine and the producer will
be restricted to the shortest possible
transportation lines consistent with
the maintenance Of an adequate and
proper coal supply to all consumers.
I'm arranging these restrictions
the Fuel Administration, in many
cases. has allotted to consumInk
territory producing fields which can
only m the demand OF the con-
sun1ers they must supply, II pro-
ductton is maintained steadily
throughout the coal year.
The Fuel Administration expects
the coal consumers, continuing z
their patriotic cooperation with
the government in, all its war meas
ures. to maintain a steady and con-
slant demand for coal in order to
attain this result. Consumers must
buy their winter supply Of coal dur
ing the spring and summer for
storage during the winter il tho
production Is to be maintained at a
maximum and the country enabled
to auofd sh
this winter.
The Fuel Administration will CO.
operate with all communities in an
effort TO provide storage for emer-
gency stocks OF coal to be set aside
during the spring and summer to
meet emergencies of weather and
which may arise next
winter.
Must Keep Reserve.
But the great storage capacity
of the country lies in the bins Of
the individual consumer and there
the country's coal reserve must be
built up during the spring and sum-
mer when coal production is un-
hindered and the transportation
facilities OF the country operating
at their highest efficiency.
AS I'll lHouCtI1cnL 70 cdTlY DuyInk
the prices Of anthracite coal have been
reduced 90 cents q ton on all domestic
sizes from April 1 TO August 81, and
in many of the bituminous fields prices
have been cut to an even greater ex-
tent.
TO safeguard the consumer the Fuel
Administration has prescribed regula-
tions to prevent profiteering and to
govern the distribution Of coal by IL
censed Jobbers and by retailers. Each
domestic consumer will be permitted
to secure q full normal supply Of coal.
but no more.
Every ton Of coal that is boarded
against future needs and Is not used
during the winter is actual waste. The
labor and transportation used to bring
the coal TO the consumer and the ac-
tuaI energy Of the coal itself are with
held from doing their part toward
speedy victory.
Consumers should secure Just a
Slittle less coal than they believe they
3need and should make every shovelfuI
give its full value In heat and power.
Every shoveIful saved means help for
the Industries in turning out supplies
for our troops abroad, help for the
ships that must bridge the 1900 mile
gap between our shores and the battle
front. and help toward ultimate VIC