Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-19
SMALL CONSUMERS
 WILL GET THEIR GOAL

SuIlSfS iuuSl cut QOWn tAelT con- sumption of coal, was made by Thom- as w. Russell. U. $. fuel administra- tor for Connecticut, in an official statement issued at the capitol We'd nesday.
 Mir. Russell, discussing the general fuel situation in Connecticut, said he anticipated no suffering during the coming winter, provided proper dis trihution was effected. He said that more homes had received coal to date than ever before, but at the same time gave the impression that the !! proper distribution of coal depended | on the ability of domestic consumers of more than ten tons to get along. if ! need be. on tWo-thirds of their re- | Quirements.
 Why there is need of conservation | when the output at the mines has been l increased, and why consumers, whose orders have not been filled, should not feel pessimistic about the situation, are questions answered in the state ruent, which follows
 "In view of the fact that the state fuel administration issued an order Sept. 10. prohibiting for the time be-
 ing any deliveries of anthracite coal in excess of two thirds of the annual | requirements, it occurs to me that word of explanation may serve to re- move any undue apprehension as to l Connecticut's fuel situation and at the same time emphasize once more the need of rigid economy on the part of i every consumer.
 l Heretofore I have not felt justified ! in venturing to predict whether or not the needs of this state would be taken care of satisfactorily; but l am now
 able to give certain assurances. based upon the somewhat improved trans | portation situation, the reduction Of 1 the plan of distribution to practical | working basis, and figures in my pos
 session as to actual receipts of coal 1 tc date as well as the carefully esti
 mated requirements of each commu- nlty and each industry. These asSur- 1 ances should be considered only in the light of the explanation which fo lows them. The facts in my opinion are; T. Connecticut will receive this year about 20 per cent. more of do mestic anthracite coal than iE 1916. | This will not constitute a surplus. but is made necessary by the growth of
 war industries and the consequent in crease in population
 "2 With equitable and economical distribution, there should be no suf- fering, this winter.
 "3. There will be enough anthracite
 coal to supply in full all homes using
 less than ten tons.
 A. There will be enough to supply
 at least two-t -thirds of the require
 ments of homes using more than ID
 tons. I hope the percentage will be
 larger, but this must depend upon the severity of the winter and other un-
 known factors. To be on the safe
 side, large homes must begin at once
 to conserve every pound of coal.
 "In short, the clearly defined policy ard indeed, the obvious duty, of the
 state fuel administration, is to protect | the small consumer, even at the eX- , rense, if necessary, of the large one
 Not only are the small consumers , more numerous, but it is they who :, bear the brunt of every coal short i, age. Fortunately there is no occasion ; for alarm on the part of those wht use less than ten tons; nor, in fact on the part of larger consumers. ex' cept that they, especially must begir , saving now. At present the easies :. way to conserve is to avoid building :. coal fires until actually cold winter
 weather If a fire is necessary on coo :, | autumn nights, wood, burned in fire z places or furnaces, should suffice : there will be just so much more coa 2 for genuine winter consumption, ant | coal saved is better than money il T II the bank. On the other hand. whoeVe 1, burns coal before November 1 at tn Il earliest is almost certain to regret C before April i.
 = The question naturally arises. wh y extreme conservation is as necessar e when Connecticut's supply will be ? Il per cent. increased and particularly
 when the output at the mines is great
 CT than ever before. The answer i Il that the demand for anthracite, i . Connecticut and generally, has in
 creased more than the production. No 0 only has the increased population ere
 ated new homes to be supplied, bu
 furthermore, munitions plants mus
 have thousands and thousands of ton s of domestic coal for melting metal; : etc.. in vital war work, where otfe V fuel will not give the requisite heat e and this, too, must come from Con if necticut's additional allotment. It 0 not fantastic to assume that wheneve l. you save a pound of coal you hel e put a machine gun or another roun d of ammunition into the hands of som l. good American who is fighting you ,t battles in France. I may add tina
 Connecticut has had its allotment in Ii creased by a larger percentage tha Ie any other state I have in mind, eX
 cept the District of Columbia. I d Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, the allot + ment of hard coal has been cut vii d tually in half West of the Missis
 sippi the supply has been cut off al F together.
 's "In this connection it seems timel to say that the offices of coal dealer ', throughout the state and of the loc; If and state fuel administrators. are cal t- ed upon to explain. more often tha a1 conditions warrant, why deliverit l YOio Oc
 some time ago. Ii must be remen .d bered that the unprecedented nun ,a bers of domestic consumers have pla ce ,d their orders Thousa nds ;n this sta s- who in other years never ordere ,v coal before November. now have the ,j1 applications flied with dealers. Tn
 has provided a means of estimatir
 the probable domestic requirement
 and has been serviceable otherwis n But it must be remembered that u
 dealer who delivered 1e eco tons [. 12 months last year can scarcely D. expected to perform the same feat ot six months this year: nor can u nt mines and railways ohlige the deal D. with a like miracle. The same rate le distribution which kept Connecttc le l warm in other years should be sufi :" cient to avert suffering this wtntt ly And, to indulge in vernacular. the nns
 who hollers in these times before he ae hit is a poor patriot. He encourag g le needless hysteria. The small col ss sumer who waits for his coal if ne 1- essary until the usual time of deliver te or the large consumer who closes pa 1- of his house. is making small sa
 rifice. when you consider that othe ey are giving their youth and their liv as for the same cause. without whir ot per"