The Mankato free press., 1918-07-19
SUPPLY OF HARD COAL
WILL BE CUTIN COUNTY
Letter On Subject Received BY
W. J. Morehart, Local
Administrator

The following letter is self explain
atory:
United States Fuel Administration
John F.. McGee, Federal Fuel Admin
istrator for Minnesota, Minneapolis,
MINI, July 13, 191S.-Mr. w. j. More
hart, Chairman and Fuel Committee
man of Blue Earth County, Mankato,
Minnesota Dear Sir: / wish to call
your attention to the matter of dist
tribution of the coal that is shipped
to the various towns in your coun-
ty. The amount to be shipped will
not be equal to the amount received
in the fuel year April 1, 191617, but
will be only percentage of that
amount, and the exact percentage is
yet undetermined. This, of course,
only applies to towns not under en-
barge.
This coal should be sold only to
consumers whose usual sorce of
supply is that town. Any other course
would permit consumers to go from
one town to another getting as much
as possible at each place, and there
by multiplying the fuel regulations de-
signed to fix the quantity of coal
that each consumer shall receive.
What ever the percentage determined
upon is, the supply Tor given town,
the amount will go there and it be-
hooves all the dealers in that town
to see that the consumer whose usu-
al source of supply has been that
town get all their coal, because no
more will go into the community. If
coal is sold in violation of this or
der and goes elsewhere to consumers
whose usual source of supply is that
town, it will not under any circum-
stances he replaced.
1t is expected that every fuel com
mittee man will realize the serious
ness of the fuel situation of this
country, and in his own community,
and will make it his personal busi-
ness and his personal task to see
that no consumer gets more than his
fair and equitable share of coal, and
also that every available cord of
wood is provided and utilized. In
many counties in the state outside OF
the wooded areas, there is timber on
the farms, and in many cases dead
and down timber rotting and wasting,
the owners of which will neither re-
duce it to cordwood or permit others
to do SO and receive a reasonable
price. therefor Such persons SO sit
ueted should not be permitted TO re-
ceive any coal, hard or soft.
The application of this rule viii
undoubtedly result in the preparation
of available timber into cordwood fuel
+ Let me again call your attention to
the seriousness of the fuel situation,
and ask that you use every available
means at your disposal to promote g
severely economical use Of both hard
and soft coal. In towns and villages
in your county, other than those in
which your members live, it might be
well to do what has been, done in
some parts of the state, VIZ, designate
a representative to act under your
direction in handling and directing
the fuel business in that particular
community. In every instance, the
man selected should be level head
ed, sensible, patriotic American. ,e
On receipt of this, communication,
it is desired that you report just what
the situation in your, county is, and
what you can do to improve it with
a statement of the plans, you have
in mind for the distribution of fuel
during the coming winter. Yours
very truly, J. F. McGee, federal fuel
administrator for Minnesota.