Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-27
COAL DEALERS
PESSIMISTIC AT
SITUATION HERE
Little Fuel at Hand For Or
ders Which Have Been
Piling Up Steadily
ALL HOPE FOR THE BEST
Promises of the Administra-
ton Viewed Skeptically
by Many Men

Coal dealers in Harrisburg refuse
TO be optimistic over the promises
or the government anthracite COM
mlttee and mine operators that
there will be adequate fuel for
household needs next winter.
With ia, 229 tons ordered. and
only 20,f45 tons delivered. leaving
unified orders to the extent of 93,
4S4 tons on their books before June
l. the dealers are frankly skeptical
total of 5,063 orders for next win
ters supply had been received by the
dealers until this morning. The ma
1orlty of them are untitled.
The fuel administration is very
optimistic" said one dealer. But
we want to see the coal"
Shipments in April were fair, they
say, not so good in May and very
poor during June. With three
months of the summer buying sea-
son gone, and the coal supply on
hand about as tangible as the coal
that was burned last winter, the
dealers are growing restive.
Their opinions vary with the fig
ures received by the local fuel ad-
ministration from the federal anth-
racite committee, which promise
more than enough coal for the citys
needs. Ross A. Hickok, county fuel
administrator, is confident that the
coal will be supplied, he has said.
A survey of the outlook among
the dealers this morning elected the
varying opinions that the situati is
bad, gloomy" ''unpromising" and
uncertain"
All the dealers admitted they have
no coal. They expressed their pes
ci1 ig.NNN in zf
sity.
John H. Gates. of the Gates Coal
Company. says: We've had no
shipments for two weeks. We have
no prospects of shipments. no guar
antees and there isn't going to be
any coal in Harrisburg irrespective
of what the fuel administration says
unless the people wake up"
Frank Wallis. Wallis Coal Com
pany. took a more conservative view
We have practically nothing on
hand, and we know absolutely moth
ing more than you regarding ship
ments to come. We couldn't get a
guarantee under any circumstances
But there is an optimistic view be-
ing taken by the dealers regarding
the promises of the operators. The
peonle must learn to conserve"
Walter Montgomery, MONTGOMERY
Coal Company. said: I'VE have a
little coal and are filling orders"
Look For Better Times
j. E. Dare, coal dealer, said: 1--WE
| don't have any but buckwheat, anC
| haven't got any nut for two months
We have the promises of the opera
! tors and anthracite committee. bu
those promises are not always kept.
H. NJ. Kelley. of H. NJ. Kelley 6
Company. sounded a note of hope
above the dealers miserere. No
we have no coal, but we have tht
! assurance of the government that w.
! will have it. The trouble is the peo
pie get excited and all of them wan
| their coal at once. Well have the
coal in August and September.
Meanwhile householders who were
urged to file their orders early arr
wondering what they will get for it
as the priority of deliveries, dealer.
said this morning. is not given tc
those who filed their orders first
but as the dealers see fit. And house
holders are getting restive at the re
ports of advanced coal prices to b,
announced contingent to the ad
vanced freight rates.