The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-18
Less Coal Than Last Year Is
Coming into the
State
AND THE SITUATION
is NOT ENCOURAGING
State Fuel Administrator
Jones Urges Greater
Resort to Wood

II. J. NJ. Jones, state fuel administra
tor has already commenced to urge peo
pie TO cut wood, but reports coming t,
him are that the people are not follow
ing that advice where il might be done
Coal is sure TO come to Vermont in les
quantity next winter than last. In fact
it is a case of wood or go cold this win
ter He is preparing drastic orders to b
sent to the coal dealers in hopes to pre-
vent a repetition of last winters short
age of fuel, and Monday afternoon he
gave out the following statement in reply
TO the following interrogation;
"AIr. Jones, what is the prospect of q
coal supply for Vermont"
shipments of coal into Vermont are
not encouraging. The United States fuel
administration has estimated the maxi
mum output of anthracite coal for the
coal year beginning April ], 1918 This
has been apportioned to the several
states, Vermont's allotment being 364 900
net tons OF domestic sizes for industrial
and domestic purposes. This allotment
is approximately four per cent. above the
governments figures OF shipment during
the coal year of 1915.
During the winter of 1915 and 1919
the Vermont dealers purchased heavily
and received an increased amount of coal
in anticipation of the threatened strike
on April / 1915, 80 that, at that date,
the coal dealers had large stock of coal
~, hand nd Ala not ,,roa Shippnanfa until
the following winter, when scarcity of
coal began to prevail in Vermont. A
large demand was then made on the
continued until April |, 1917. On the de-
mands made only enough coal was re-
ceived TO relieve immediate needs, so that
commencing April |, 1917, there were no
stocks Of coal in the hands OF dealers or
in the bins Of consumers.
'None of us viii forget the winter of
l9l7-l9lS, and all will agree that it was
case OF hand -to-mouth during the en-
tire year, with no chance whatever TO
lay in stock.
The basis of distribution for the pres
ent year. as decided by the United States
fuel administration, is the tonnage of
coal shipped during the coal year Of 1916
and not the tonnage received during that
year According TO reports from dealers
in the state. they received in the coal
year of 1916 nearly 10000 net tons and
according to a conservative estimate they |
had on hand at the beginning of the coal !
year approximately $4,000 tons, or total |
of $4,000 net tons was consumed in the |
coal year of 1915. / say consumed, be- |
cause there was no stock on hand April /
/, 1917. Another report received from the |
dealers shows that they received during /
the coal year of 1917 over 10000 net
tons, and as the first of last April was
such a short time ago no one forgets that
as fast as coal was received it was ped
died out in one or one half ton lots, so
that on April |, 1918, we again started
coal year with empty bins and no accu
mulated stock.
"As it ia difficult for us to obtain data
If shipments, and as the Washington fig
lres are based on shipments, whereas our
igures are based on receipts, there is
discrepancy between the figures compiled
~ our office mad those furnished by
Washington. The reports OF receipts in
,ur office show that we consumed $4,000
let tons during the coal year 1915 and
ttNsbtV Htl bctlc uul liE tue bphi year VI /
OH Our estimate of the stock on hand ,
April /, 1915 may be too low, but we all
,now that we consumed more coal this
asst winter on account of the severity of
he weather than during the previous ,
winter.
IF you compare our consumption for {
he past two years with our allotment of 7
90, 600 tons for this year, you will be
onvinced that it is not a pleasant out {
Dok and that some radical measure must /
e put into effect at once, if suffering in |
'ermont is to be avoided during the {
oming winter. I
"The anthracite coal distributing com
iittee, whose offices are in Philadelphia {
composed of practical coal men, con- s
cientious, broad and fair minded, and of
ability. After having given
he matter their most careful considera-
ion, they determined the quota to be
llowed each state They know that Yer
lont does not have a large number of in
ustries working on 100 per cent. war >
ork, and they feel that on account of /,
ne draft and on account of men leaving a
Or work in munition factories in other h
.ates, Vermont has decreased in popula- o
on; and they also feel that, living in a s
ate where wood is obtainable, our quota a
lould be reduced.
1--WE all realize that we must bend ev-
v energy in every direction and make
ipreme sacrifices to assist the govern
ent at this critical time The fuel office \,
lnuot shoulder the fuel responsibility
one, and we feel that the citizens of the \,
ate should know the true situation so :.
at they may prepare to meet condi-
ons next winter. In previous years we D
e part Of the dealers, who could go TO a
e coal eenters and purchase; to-day =,
oney viii not buy more than our quota, -