The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-13
WAYS AND MEANS
OF SPEEDING UP
COAL DELIVERY
Question Discussed at Meet
ing of Dealers and Fuel
Board.
TO SECURE AID
IN DISTRIBUTION
Consumers Asked to Get
Coal to Homes Themselves
If Possible.

At joint meeting of the Bridge
port Fuel Board and the Coal Dealers
Association, held yesterday afternoon,
ways and means of speeding up the
deliveries of anthracite coal were
carefully considered. The dealers
have delivered a large amount of coal
during the past two weeks and made
arrangements with the board at this
meeting, for a still larger delivery dur
ing the next few weeks. Providing
that the receipts of anthracite coal
continue at the same rate which they
have during the past four weeks, do
nestle consumers will receive at least
two-thirds of their yearly require
mentS before the severe winter
weather arrives. One-quarter of the
entire allotment allowed this city has
been already distributed and every
effort is to be made by the dealers to
deliver the coal as fast as it arrives.
Owing to circumstances beyond the
control OF. the local board, a larger
amount of egg coal has been received
than other domestic sizes and the
| board wishes to urge upon all con-
| sumers who can use this size to notify
their dealers that they are willing to
| do so in place of stove, thereby pre-
venting delay in distribution and help
| out the situation. Competent author
| tiles claim that buckwheat coal can
be used with egg coal satisfactorily if
| instructions which will be published
| shortly by the administration are fol-
| lowed, the intention being not to mix
| the small coal with the larger sizes
but to use it separately for banking
| purposes and as a top layer to the
| egg size. These authorities claim that
| as high percentage as 25 per cent
of buckWheat can be used to good ad-
vantage.
Steps will be taken to try and Sc
cure the assistance of the city depart
ments in hauling and distributing the
coal required to the schools and fire
| houses, etc.
| The board also asks consumers who
own trucks or are willing to hire
trucks or carts to carry their coal in
| bulk to their homes, to do so. This
for the present is offered to all per-
sons who have placed their appIica-
ton orders with the local dealers pre-
vious to May 5. as it is desired to
| clean up all applications made pre-
vious to that date. The applications
made during the month of April be-
ing by far the largest of any succeed
ing month, all efforts are to be made
to get these filled as soon as possible
| Several of the local dealers have
been unable to procure coal in suffi-
Gent quantity to keep their equip
ment properly at work, but their
cases have been brought to the at
tention of the Anthracite Commits
sion who have promised immediate
relief. If this is done much
greater amount of coal can be deliv-
cred.
The rotation of orders is being in
sisted upon by the local board and
also the strict observance of two
thirds of the yearly requirements to
every consumer. Any violation Of
this rule is contrary to the agree
ment made between the dealers and
local board. Very few cases where
proof could be obtained has come to
the notice Of the board. Anonymous
complaints cannot be considered but
actual violations are carefully noted
and the necessary action taken if re-
quired later on.
We wish to impress upon every do
nestle consumer of coal, that we
value their assistance in our hard
| and sometimes unpleasant task of
directing the distribution of coal, and
would ask them to wait their turn
for delivery and in the event of posi-
tive need of coal to call upon us for
Il small amount for emergency use.
Rumors have been circulated that
the local dealers are boarding coal
We feel that 1t is only fair to them
to state that this is not the case
and upon careful Investigation we
find that the total amount of coal
] stored in the yards does not verify
the reports but allows for only a
reasonable supply to keep their equip
ment going in the event of delay in
shipments.
In spite of the extreme hot wealth
err last week, there was more than
1900 tons of coal delivered to local
| consumers. The local board is ask
ing for delivery of 10000 tons per
week which can be secured by the
cooperation of dealers and con-
|