The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-06
RICHMOND PASSES
ITS FUEL CRISIS
HN6 fEf EHtNVN
.ssEvery NEEDY Family, Now Has Ade-
quate supply i'm CclIar--Situation
Throughout state Stiil Dark
NORFOLK is RELIEVED
fn Many Sections Inferior Grade of
Steps to Eliminate Such Shipments.
Coal Has Been Sold--Byrd Takes

n
To alleviate the critical situation In
Norfolk at which place 1t was runored
yesterday that riot was impending
unless some arrangements were made
immediately, state Fuel Administrator
Byrd received an order from 'Wash-
irgton affecting an instant release of
NJ sufficient supply for that city from
- 4se large shipments that were elogging
the virgsnian ana Norfolk and West
~stfn yards at that point consigned 10
sssSshe New England states,--.ess' s-~ -
f $3.50 Til ronghout the state, II was shown
@&wssesterdap, the situation remains In a.
md state, and the office of Admins
'1.sssyrator BYRD was flooded with cails-
ALTON every section In the southwest
*@fspUrtion especially Bristol, the supply
~@~nsxs hand Is exhausted. and only
Ns-~1peagre shipments have been received
~ s~kSam the mines.
In Richmond the clouds are fast
-ss..elearing and for the FIRST time in sew
3 Ill sra, days the local commission drew
sigh OF relief. The crisis WAS passed
~gafey with the moderation Of the cold
wave that has for so long ehgu1fed the
~s.fty in It's chilly naws. With the clear
sng of the streets of it's Ice and snow
carpets. 1t is thought that the trucks
win soon be able TO make the deliH-
erfes with their accustomed ajacrity.
~se Chairman A. Bierne- Blair stated yes~
teroay that every compiaiat registered
st his ONCE had been answered with
satisfactory supply of fuei--not one
family in the entire city that had APP
piled for assistance but now has coal
in the cellar. Mr.. Blair was unstinted
sss.a In hts praises of the work and
49, f~s operation Of the local dealers. whose
- assistance made possible the filing of
- all the demands that swamped the
- aaxr mission.
nj with equitable distribution the sup
~ ply on hand was found sufficient for
~ ', Nff Immediate demands but with the
ssa anormous run on the dealers that sup
WI ply ran low Immediate steps were
- taken by the commission 10 repieuish
~@ the depleted yards. and on Monday
~ shipments will arrive that viii be suf-
- fcient to ward off any future dangers,
Ssg Following the report that a large
~ amount of excellent fuel was being
-ss wasted by employees of the Chesa-
- peake and Ohio railroad. who were
.s dumping old Ties into the james river
81 along the line of the big yiaduct where
- new rails being replaced officials
- Of that road issued Instructions
~ against such loss. The ties are sea-
f@- scred and form fuel OF excellent
81 que lily when cut
- The administrative board whose
A trucks have been delivering coal to
Aa the poor during the winter. yesterday
.s@ issued statement thai ii would place
80 fifty OF these trucks at the Disposal
s.s Or the city to meet this needs of all
- who were in distress They offered
III to supply any citizen with coal who
~ was actually In want whether he was
- able to pay for IL or not.
9fA An interesting letter in connection
with the fuel shortage was received
+.-.A- several days ago by Administrator
Byrd from Martin j. Burks. associate
member of the state supreme court
OF appeals. In which the writer showed
exceptional fores Eht He advocated
the closing OF schools during the two
hard winter months~-January and
F'ehruary--and continuing them dur
ing the summer months when fuel
IL not needed. IN addition the month
Of August could bc given as vaca 50
ton, which would tust about meet
the present school wear system
ts.s't'tt't Following several n1plaints from
Issss,s many sections af the state that the
sss.t,,oaai sold in those sections was of an
inferior grade, and IN some cases half
filled with dirt, Mr.. Byrd has taken
steps to ia eliminate such shipments
He yesterday sent out o eommunica-
ZION TO all the local commissions ask
ing that they report all such shin
ments, and that a sample he sent to
Washington. TO the United States bu !.
.s&m. .rsau of. mines. department of the In
$780, terior. for analysis.
The communication in part follows.
"A great many complaints have
been received by me OF the inferior
s1ede of coal that In being sup
piled by certain mines. / have made
arrangements with the United States
hureau of mines Of the department of
the interior Washington, D. c. to
analyze coal when the quality is con
sldered inferior and not In accordance
with agreement Please notify the re-
sailers throughout your section that
samples should he taken In the follow
ing manner, the weight of the sample
to be ABOUT five pounds
IF 1t IN generally known that the
government intends TO snatyxe the
Grades of coal. this should have a very
helpful influence In compelling the
mines 10 furnish coal exactly In ac-
eordance with contract Due TO the
scarcity of coal and the elimination
of competition. IT has been very evil
Gent that In many cases the grade OF
coal furnished has been Inferior and