Evening star., 1918-01-10
SHORTAGE Of COAL
IND. C. DESCRIBED
Administrator Weaver Tells
Senate Committee Card Sys-
tenn Is Planned Here.
RATI0NlNG BEGINS APRIL |

| Steps to relieve the coal shortage in
Washington. already taken and pro-
posed. were discussed yesterday after
noon by John L. Weaver. local fuel
administrator, before the Senate manu-
factures committee. which is investi-
eating the coal shortage the country
| over. Mr.. Weaver's testimony devel-
oped the following facts:
There Is coal shortage in the Dis
trict Of Columbia today due to the
fact that an insufficient supply of coal
Is being shipped here to meet demands.
Mr.. Weaver estimated that deliveries
OF coal to Washington were short
about 1000 tons day.
Local coal dealers have done all in
.neir power to relieve the situation.
iney have not boarded nor held coal
lor higheE/prices. They have had great
olHeul[F' in finding the necessary labor
eq defver coal to consumers.
Mr.. Weaver expects the newly formed
association of dealers for greater CO.
operation to do much to aid in better
ing conditions here.
oh While While more coal has probably been
Just ended than in 1916. it has been in
sun1ciept to meet demands because. since
tne yar began, the population of Wash
increased ABOUT
pppximately 20 per cent.
April l, when the new Coal year. be-
gins. card system for rationing coal for
Domestic consumption will be established
IN order to conserve coal. The ration
allowed will be about 20 per cent below
the amount which has been used in each
mouse IN past years.
Card System Planned.
Mr.. Weaver explained to tho commit
tee that If a plan which the fuel ad-
gdnistration is whipping into shape is
ington and every church, apartment
mouse. hotel and commercial institution
Will be on coal rations after April /.
ae SAID a card would be issued. not to
piece of property; that a careful esti-
mate would be made of what coal would
be needed to heat that property and that
only 50 much coal would be allowed for
that piece Of property
IN this way, he said, a great conser-
vation OF coal would be accomplished. He
salu the plan was to. cut down about 20
per cent the amount of coal which the
use. ~
This would teach them thrift as well
as conserve the country's coal supply.
he said. pp'''
II propose to say to the consumers,
We need 20 per cent of the coal which
mas been used in the past by you for
the war" said Mr.. Weaver. 'I believe
they will Immediately begin to conserve
the coal which is allowed them. In the
past they have paid too little attention
70 their furnaces. The cheapest and
most careless labor has been allowed
to care for the furnace fires, with the
result that coal has been wasted in
great quantities. No one can look after
my hre as well as I can myself"
This plan for rationing coal is to he
country-wide, and the federal fuel ad-
ministration has been working on it
for some time.
The administration already has an
nounced a plan to control the amount
OF coal to be allowed to industries not
essential to the war. It is to be at
tempted first through a system of vol
untary agreements coal budget"
the fuel administration terms it. II the
voluntary agreements fail, compulsory
rationing will have to be the alterna-
tive.