The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-13
UNCLESAMIS
BUY|NGAND
DISTRIBUTING
HISOWNCOAL
BY BILL PRICE.

Uncle Sam is today buying and dis
tributing all the coal he is using in
his own business in this city, and also
supplies every branch OF the District
government
without much ado and with few in
tnoductory remarks Uncle Sam is to-
day operating eighteen motor trucks
In carrying coal needed by Govern
ment institutions, and he has engaged
q total OF thirty heavy wagons for the
work he will have to do in the coming
winter. Hee has bought them all
through the quartermaster general OF
the War Department
since July l.
All this is the beginning Of actiy-
HES under provisions Of the sundry
eivil bill, signed July /, directing the
Federal and District governments to
obtain and distribute their coal direct
" instead of by the former system of
buying through contracts with local
dealers.
As a coal dealer the Government in
Washington has been in business for
itself since July 1, and Van H. Man
ming, the director Of the Bureau OF
Mines, under whose direction the law
the progress that has been made.
The big work ahead Of him is es-
Sablishing huge coal yards, with mod
ern equipment, for supplying the
needs OF the coming winter. These
coal yards, Of which there will prob
ably be three, must be capable-of
handling 100000 tons OF coal for the
Federal Government and from 10000
to $4,000 for the District government
Fl~r- Ill en- q n
= appropriation of S1.154,0 SS for the
purchase, transportation and handling
Of fuel for the Government; also for
the payment Of salaries Of employees
and other expenses
S4S2,3OO Added.
The bnI added S432, 800, to be i'm
mediateIy available, for the establish
ment of fuel and distributing yards.
purchase of lands by condemnation or
otherwise construction or purchase
OF wharves. railroad sidings, trestles'
trucks. etc.
The District government. from its
revenues, is chargeable with one-hfth
of the total of the two items, or
SSI7.277.60. For this expenditure. it
win get all the coal it uses in any
municipal institution. including pub
lie schools, warehouses;, home for the
aged and infrm and courts. The
other four-fifths Is payable from the
Federal Treasury. Congress was
about to saddle one-half of the total
appropriation on the District when
the unfairness Of the proposition was
laid before that body by Henry B. F.
Mcfarland and Col. John G. Capers,
Of the Chamber of Commerce
As II stands, the District will not
be heavy loser, although it has not
IN the past burned 100000 worth OF
coal each year.
c. s. Pope in Charge.
director Manning has put George
8. Pope, Of his office, in charge OF
the Government fLel yards. The law
makes the Secretary of the Interior
responsible for the carrying out of Its
provisions, but assigns lhe Bureau Of
Mines to the work. The Districts in
forests will be looked after by NJ. N.
Bergen, chief fuel inspector Of the
District
Mr.. Manning has been In consulta-
tion with engineers as TO the con-
Ftrrction of fuel wards. TIE sites for
the three yards have not been select
ed, but one OF them may be along Vir-
ginia avenue southeast, near the
Capitol power plant At present the
bureau is making use Of the District
stone and brick dump at Second and
N streets northeast, and OF the dump
used by the Interior Department last
winter, located near the Union Sta
ton terminal. These yards will an
swer for summer needs The District
dump is a large one and is fairly well
equipped.
The construction of the equipment
Of the new yards will not be COM
pleted for three months or until the
middle Of October, by which time
they will have to begin taking care
of the winter supplies for the Gov
eminent
Economy Il Aim.
Mr.. Manning said today that his
eface Will attempt to operate the fuel
yards as economically as possible, as
the scheme will demonstrate whether
the Government Will save money by
changing from the contract plan to
handling its own business There
win be required at each Of the yards
n chief engineer. foreman. general
Euperintendent and many laborers,
md inspectors will be used to pass
upon the quality of coal and other
matters.
All coal will be obtained through
the fuel administration The Bureau
Of Mines will ascertain the class of
coal and the quantity wanted oy eaCn
Government institution. and the fuel
administration will be notified TO
have II brought here. The only bust
ness of the fuel administration viii
be TO get the coal
The law distinctly provides that the |
coal yards or dumps of local dealers
shall not be taken over or interfered
with. and IL does not make any pro- |
vision for supplying the Washington |
public in case OF a great scarcity OF |
coal Citizens must not rely on the |
Government for their needs, although |
IN case Of a serious pinch they might |
get help.
The Governments entrance into the |
coal business in Washington will take |
away probably 20 per cent Of the |
business OF Washington coal dealers
H7YWR~FHAZ