Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1918-01-04
SCHOOL OPENING
POSTPONED WEEK
Applies Throughout the State
Because Of Coal Shortage
Date Announced is January 14--Gov.
eminent Takes Coal Hauling Boats to
Coal Ships in Portland

Coal Sn1pS IN PORTLAND
Because Of the seriousness Of the
coal shortage and the unpromising out.
look the schools Of Drattleboro will
not open, following the Christmas va.
cation, until Jan. II, which is a week
later than previously announced. Thu
same fact applies all over the state CT
cept in such schools as desire to burn
wood and open earlier.
This announcement follows action on
the part Of the state fuel ndminiStra.
tor, II. J. NJ. Jones Of Montpelier, and
cooperation on the part Of the state
commissioner Of education, NJ. II. Hill
legas, and Bishop Rice OF the Roman
Catholic diocese.
On Saturday afternoon telegram
came from Mr.. IIillegas to Miss Flor.
encc NJ. Wcllm0n stating the situation,
as follows:
MONTPELIER, Dee. 20.
Snpt. Florence NJ. Wrllmnn:
Alr. Jones, the fuel administration
Of Vermont, requests that all
schools using coal remain closed
until the 18th for the purpose Of
saving coal. This is to be done i'll
other New England states and
meets with our approval Schools
using wood or those that can use
wood need not close
NJ. b. HILLEGAS.
Chairman l.. @. 8. Osgood Of the
school board of the incorporated dis
trict stated Sunday that he had tclc
phoncd to tho other members Of the
school board, Or. A. |. Miller and a.
+. Schwcnk, aud that it was agreed
that tho schools both the high school
and grades, would remain closed until
Jan. IL. Some of the schools might
burn wood, but it is felt by all the
authorities that it would be better 10
have all schools begin at the same
time. Brattleboro academy in West
Brattlcboro, which il under Miss Well
man g supervision, also will remain
closed
Chairman Carl s. Hopkins Of the
town school directors said Monday
that the town schools also would
remain closed until Jan. Ii. Some Of
them burn wood and some coal, but II
il desirable that all be in session AZ
the same time,
/
Roman Catholic parish said Monday
morning that he approved the plan and
that while no had heard nothing Ms yet
from Bishop Rice concerning thc Pa
rochial school IL was safe TO say that
it would not open until Jan. IT,
State Fuel Administrator Jones ar
rived home Saturday morning from a
conference in Boston and stated Sat
urday evening that tho coal condition
is 50 critical in VotTncnt that towns
which have had tho equivalent OF their
last years supply 'Sill be unable TO
get moro coal cXccpting in emergency
instances When he left Washington,
d. c., after the conference there he
was much encouraged about the con
dition, but the government in order 10
coal some OF its ships at Portland Me,
has taken several OF the coal hauling
boats in order that the 10000 to 100,
900 tons OF coal needed to supply these
ships can be carried 10 that point,
which not only diminishca tho supply
coming to the New England states TINT
amount but also takes out Of tho move.
ment Of coal the number OF ships noed
cd TO handle the above tonnage. Add
ed 10 this Is the congestion which OK.
lists on 91mo Of the railroads, so that il
Is next to impossible TO move coal I'M.
dor these conditions in any great quan
tity to relieve the situation in the New
England states.
Ono Of the results Of the conference
was decision that the schools Of
these states be asked to continue their
holiday vacation until Jan. II aud in
accordance with that suggestion Mr.
Jones on Saturday requested Commits
s!oncr Of Education NJ. b. Hillegas to
cooperate in that plan, which resulted
in II conference and tho decision being
reached that the schools will not opcn
until Jan. II.
The following letter explains the
situation "a considerable extent.