Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-11
EVERY MAN HIS OWN NOAH

WHEN Noah, son Of Lamech, told his
w neighbors that there was to be
flood they laughed at him and said they
intended to do business as usual. But
the rain which the wise old weather
prophet predicted came in due season
and it lasted forty days and forty nights.
Unfortunately for his satisfaction none
Of the scoffers survived to listen to his
81 told you So"
When the coal dealers told the people
last spring that n coal famine was
impending and advised them to buy their
winters supply while the buying was
good thousands Of them, trusting in the
promise Of the Government that prices
would be reduced before autumn and that
the supply would be adequate, paid no
heed to the warning. But the coal famine
came and the people froze for forty days
and forty nights. The coal dealers have
been too charitable to say 81 told you
So"
Now comes Fuel Administrator Gar
field, who was one of the scoffers at the
modern Noahs last summer, with a
recommendation that the consumers put
in an order now for what coal they will
need next winter to be delivered between
April / and September 1. The price all
surimer is to be uniform, instead Of
suffering a radical drop on April | and
rising ten cents ton each succeeding
month.
Whatever action the consumers take is
likely to be based on their own experience
and judgment rather than on the advice
of Mr. Garfield. His advice happens to
be sound and based on the established
practice of prudent householders, but he
has unfortunately ceased to exercise any
authority over the judgment of the
people.
If the operation of the coal mines is
not interfered with and if the railroads
are permitted to supply the cars needed
to supplement water transportation in
the summer months an adequate supply
Of anthracite can be provided for the
needs Of this city as we'll as Of the re st
of the nation. The summer is the season
of greatest production, for the reason
that the weather does not interfere with
the operation of the washeres. 1t is the
season when transportation can be
effected most eXpeditiously and econom-
ically, for the reason that the waterways
are open and the SHOWS do not block the
railroad tracks. Nothing can prevent
an adequate supply and satisfactory
distribution save more bungling in WASH
ington.
AS there is still the possibility of more
blunders, the householders who found
themselves fueless this winter are
likely to take no more chances than they
can avoid. They will put in their orders
for cta. at the earliest possible moment
and they will get the fuel in their cellars
without needless delay. There is no
doubt that in this city the local dealers
will cooperate to their utmost with the
consumers and will cart the coal directly
from the cars to the cellars with as little
unnecessary handling as possible. OF
course, every one cannot be supplied in
April. There are not teams enough
available. But the fuel administrator
deserves praise for fixing uniform
price for all summer, so that the house.
holder who gets his supply in April will
enjoy no financial advantage over the
consumer who finds he cannot have his
coal bins filled until August.
1t has been an expensive lesson. this of
the futility of depending on the paternal
promises of the Government to take care
of the fuel supply for the people. Few
are likely to depend on the new promises.
They will use their best Judgment.
informed by bitter experience. Every
man will be his own Noah and provide
ms own ark against emergencies.
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