Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-27


. their receipt, excepting in three in
stances, when dealers either failed
TO get through the snow blocked
streets, or the wrong address was
given, as was the case in one.
These cases were listed from
among 1000 telephone calls and
fisits to the office. The telephone
calls numbered $500 while more
han 220 citizens came to the offices
of the Chamber of Commerce to
make known their plights.
Until February >, investigations
of the condition of the consumers
coalpiles and state of health were
made by the city police department.
After that date. four students from
the Technical High school have
handled the work.
"All of the cases listed for imme-
diate relief were either those Of
with sickness in their midst.
or containing very young children or
aged persons. In the filling of the
orders. there was slight difficulty eX-
perienCed with three dealers, two of
whom were cut off from their regu-
lar supply of coal for a brief intervai
until the Dauphin County Fuel
Board and Fuel Administrator Ross
4. Hickok were assured of instant
and complete cooperation.
Handle 1000 Calls
In the handling of these more
than 1000 calls. the office force of
the Chamber Of Commerce is TO he
commended for the ability exhibited
in handling the work and also for
the tact and patience employed in
dealing with citizens in all stages
of dispair and anger. There was but
one citizen who left this office or
quit the telephone in anger, and
in that instance the person was so
up over the failure 10 Sc
cure coal, that the fact that the
Chamber had already ordered a sup
ply to the house could not be eX-
planned. for lack of intervals be-
tween TRADES. Later the man tele-
phoned his appreciation of the emer-
gency order given through this
office.
There were received a total of
1872 complaints regarding coal.
boarding by citizens. over-charging
and failure to deliver emergency
orders by the dealers. OF the
failure-to-d deliver" orders. IS were
serious. with the result that two
dealers were notified that their coal
were withheld until explain
ations were made to the Fuel Ad-
One other dealer was
advised that his coal shipments
would be withheld unless he gave
preference to requests from this bu-
reau. OF the over charging" COM
plants, two illustrations will serve
to show the nature of these COM
plants and the basis of them.
One man reported a charge of
and pea coal. His receipt showed
l 900 pounds delivered and the price
as mentioned. Investigation showed
the dealers books had credited the
man with 1000 pounds delivered.
but another 1000 pounds to be de-
livered when received, as the parti-
cular coal desired was not to be
had in sufficient quantity at the time
of the first delivery. The second:
a receipt for 500 for bituminous
coal. one ton, was found to be an
extra grade of blacksmith coal.
which cost the dealer more than S5
on his siding.
II Charges Fall Flat
There were II collaborating
charges made by citizens through
letters, telephone or in person. All
were investigated and is of the
more serious were subjected to in
quiry from two sources. All these
Investigations were secretly made.
so that none of the citizens reported
as coal-hoarders knows of the acti-
vities of the Fuel Bureau in his
particular case. In not a single in
stance was there to be any evil
dence OF collaborating. This in face
OF the fact that of the IS cases
a lrTn
coal, not one was reported less than
three times. from as many sources
one case was reported
times from as many sources.
Such report indicates the nat
riotism of Harrisburg's citizens.
Taken with the many instances
which came to my personal knowl-
edge where citizens with very mode
rate supplies of coal freely provided
their less fortunate neighbors with
fuel sufficient to last them till This
bureau could get to them with an
emergency order. it makes a record
which would suggest be made puh-
lie.
That you may be informed as 10
the nature of the collaborating com
plants. I submit the details concern
ing some of the more serious re
ports:
"One man had on hand .. ton of
reported to have 20
tons. Another had 2 tons on hand
reported to have 10 tons stored. >
third had y ton. reported tons
stored; a fourth had IL tons on
hand. reported ) tons stored: a fifth
had y a ton, reported tons stored.
The climax being the Investigation
Of a Harrisburger who had one
bucket although he was reported to
have tons stored.
1T is my belief. based upon per-
sonal Investigations of Al of the
more serious cases and reports from
on all the Others. that
there was practically no coaI-hoard-
ing in this city at any time during
the winter.
That the service that the Cham
Der of Commerce was able to rem
der the citizens during the panic.
was appreciated was indicated bv
more than a hundred telephone calls
II thanks which was received by the
bureau during the course of the six
weeks work. In addition. most Of
hese citizens returning for the sec
md order from this bureau express
ID their appreciation of the service
'endered.
The Office force of the Chamber
II Commerce rendered an emergency
ervice which was an unusual as was
he occasion for il. There were dva