The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-14
State Fuel Administrator
Jones Also Urges G. =
ting Wood
GRANITE SHIPME ES
MAY BE HI s } UP
Supply of Soft Co; e lay Be
Much Lessened An
other Year

ent pace, use the pruning hook till it is
worn to dull edge, cut corners and
pare expenses to the bone
That was the meat of the rather start
ling message which the state fuel admin
istrator, II. j. NJ. Jones, brought to the
city council at special meeting yester.
| day afternoon.
Tho government is not bucking nom
essential industries, said Mr. Jones in
his informal remarks before the council,
but if the need is actually imperative
the non-essential industries must be sac
rifced for the duration of the war The
state administrator had word of COM
fort for domestic fuel users, for he said
that hard coal in sufficient quantities to
keep the population warm would be
forthcoming, although he continually
stressed the necessity of relying very
largely upon wood, of cutting wood, and
yet more wood.
As for soft coal-his story had diff
ferent ring. The council listened. If it
has failed to heed in the fiscal year now
ing louder and louder as election APP
proaches, it lent listening ear to the
revealing remarks of the fuel administra-
tor and while much of the money that
should have been husbanded against the
coming crisis, maybe, has been squan
dered the hard, cold facts as presented
by the speaker undeniably had a sober
ing effect on the little group of men who
constitute the city government.
Mr.. Jones prefaced his remarks with
review of the circumstances leading up
to the present coal shortage. He told of
his own experiences as a member of the
New England coal committee. He told
of conditions which made the so-caled
Garfield Mondays and the five-day sus-
pension as well absolutely imperative.
There are plenty of cars, but there is a
lack of motive power. While many ship
bottoms ordinarily used for coal trans
portation have been diverted to other
useful channels. he said, the prime need
is of locomotives. The state administra-
tor spoke of freight embargoes and re-
ferred to their effect on the local indus
try. The nations first need is to get
men, munitions and other supplies to
France and while that need is being met
less essential things must wait. When
coal begins to move it will go to the es
sential industries and there again the
non essentials must wait.
The speaker summarized his remarks
by saying that between threatening coal
embargoes and shortage of coal that
may grow more instead of less acute,
Barre is facing critical period Keep
4 H.
ind in this connection Mr.. Jones said
hat every expenditure that is not who'll
Y necessary should be eliminated. He
cared that much of the finished work in
he granite industry might not be shipped
rom Barre until after April ! and that
he producers would, therefore, have to
'ay taxes on the output. Practically
veryone is directly or indirectly depend
mt upon the industry and the need for
is more vital than ever before.
Apparently Mr.. Jones was unaware
hat the budget for the coming year had
cen made up and his surprise was not
isguised when he was told that the tax
ate would be larger than last year. He
sked the reason and Alderman Healv
aid that it was due wholly to state
axes. The latter went on to say that
ne rate, so far as city expenses are con-
srned, would be lower than last year, a
latter of $3.50, adding that the 40 cents
Stra would be levied for state taxes
ven with the $40 rate. members of
ne council explained, expenditures would
ave to be carefully scrutiniZed. No
ention was made of an impending in
ease in school taxes or of unforeseen
Turning to the discussion of wood, Mr..
mes gave voice to his oft iterated plea
II more wood cutting. He said that
are had not known. in the present win
r. any of the suffering visited upon
mmunities right here in Vermont, to
" nothing of larger cities and towns.
hat this was true, he continued, was
lie to the commendable activity of
cal coal dealer in getting together large
Iantities of coal last summer Yer
ont, as compared with other states east
the Mississippi. was peculiarly favored
tn coal this winter, and the chances
e that this state viii not find the going
easy next winter.
So the administrator talked about
,od He advised the council to go into
e wood business at once, and when il
IS explained that the charter prevented
2 municipality from operating a wood
rd. he expressed the opinion that the
' government might make shift to cir
invent the charter obligation in some
n. He was asked by Alderman Alex
der whether he would advise an extra
of 10 or % cents to set the city ny
the wood business. Evidently Mr..
les had not gotten over his surprise on
tax question. for he quickly answered
question by suggesting a loan. IL
: explained that money cannot be bor-
we'd for a longer period than three
nths at this time.
Iowever. the administrator thought
i the city's plain duty is TO accumu-
P wood. and toward the close Of the
citing he said that Barre's future in
next wear or two depended largely
N the ability Of those in authority 70
rriSe economy. constructive economy
the kind that means actual saving.
% do it. part IN relieving the coal
ain bv using wood Then, in a real
is with the city's real industry e
ke. h. thought that 2 good Show ing
nc the lines prescribed might help out
lroruring enough coal and transports
iu measure sufficient tp keep ths
rasrw f~oluu n.searrfrr - - fvrnH