The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-12-21

Anthracite May BE Sold to Steam
and Hot Water Furnace Owners.


The federal fuel administration re-
moved some OF the restrictions from
anthracite coal during the week. The
most important change initiated is
the allowing Of anthracite coal to be
sold to users OF steam and hot water
plants. Hereafter dealers may sell
egg and stove size coal to owners OF
such plants in ratio OF so per cent
OF their normal supply. All nut coal
must be sold to base burners.
A comparatively few OF the people
understand the restrictions that have
been placed upon fuel, and many
complaints are heard. mostly by peo-
pie who are ignorant of exact condi-
tions.
Iron county has been in peculiarly
hard position. Owing to faulty
computation made by the fuel admin
istration, this county was not allowed
all OF the coal that 1t was rightfully
entitled to. The state administrator
says that the trouble originated at
Washington. Wherever 1t originated,
Iron county was cut out OF its proper
tion OF the coal sold by mining COM
panies in 1916 to their employees. The
error has been the subject OF much
correspondence between the county
committee and the state administra-
tion and couple OF trips to head
quarters were made by the chairman
OF the fuel administration OF the coun-
ty in an effort to adjust matters.
The county administration has been
helped very much at Washington by
w. Frank James, our congressman,
who has given lot OF his time and
attention this year TO helping out his
constituents In the upper peninsula In
fuel, food and other matters.
Iron River has Jared much worse
than the other places OF the county
That place was awarded 724 tons OF
coal, whereas IL should have been
given 1,1S9, and II that amount had
been awarded to Iron River the people.
over there Would have been fairly
well taken care OF. AS It developed,
less complaint was heard from Iron
River than any other place.
Crystal Falls was awarded 1893.
This city should have had 1888 tons.
Stambaugh got the long end OF the
deal as she was given 61S tons when
she should have had but 521. Palatka.
which is supplied from the Verona
Mining Co, got Just what she was
entitled to. but Amasa and Alpha got
no coal at all and coal had to be taxi
en- from the award made 10 Crystal
Falls on the start to help out the
people OF the latter place.
AS result OF the efforts OF the
county committee the government
finally made a change I'm its figures
and sent man to the Escanaba and
Menominee docks to ascertain IL this
county was getting its fair share OF
the coal. He found that Iron county
has not received its share and so
shipment Is 10 be made all-rail from
the east 10 help make up the dehcien-
cy.
The condition in the county would
not have been so bad had the dock
companies given US fair deal. The
G. Reiss Co. has had coal. but II has
not been giving the dealers what they
were entitled to. The Central West
company OF Menominee has been
building new dock all summer and
wasn't able to deliver any coal at alt
until away late in the fall.
All OF these things taken together
has worked a serious hardship on Iron
county people. but there Is indication
OF the hardship being lifted soon. So
far all but very few Crystal Falls
families have had one load OF hard
coal. Some complain that the coaIi
big and the fire goes out That is one
OF the Inconvenience we must con
tend With. State administrations adj
vised that users breaks up their
coal. and at one time II actually look
ed as II that course would have q be-
followed.
Others complain they have burn
ed up all the first allotment To such
the fuel committee must reply that
the scarcity OF hard coal was fully adj
yertised and no one had any right TO
make a hog OF himself by consum-
ing his hard coal in ordinary man
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