Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-06-29
THE COAL SITUATION
Shortage Of Eight Per Cent. Of the
Estimated Requirements

Shortage Of Eight Per Cent. Of the
! Estimated Requirement.
MUST USE BITUMINOUS COAL
At meeting of the State Organiza-
ton of the u. S. Fuel Administration
of this state held on Friday, June Z,
the question of the allotment of Anthra-
cite Coal to Delaware. recently made
by the Anthracite Distributing Commit
tee of the U. S. Fue; Administration
was discussed, and it was the unani-
nous opinion that the following state
ment should be given to the public
The figures as compiled by the
Anthracite Committee show that in the
Fiscal Coal Year 1867 there were
shipped 223, SOB tons of domestic sizes.
and in proportion to the estimated pro-
duction of Anthracite Coal for this
year, they have allotted to this State an
increase of 10 per cent. over these fig
ures, namely: 245, 853 tons, which in our
opinion Is not sufficient to take care of
the necessary demands, unless some
restrictions are put upon certain classes
of consumers
In presenting our figures to the An
thracite Distributing Committee of
what we believed were the minimum
quantities necessary, we asked for 267,-
9O6 tons of domestic sizes, making a
difference between this amount and
that which was allotted to US of 22,O53
tons, which means an absolute shortage
even were we to receive every ton that
was allotted.
This shortage will be felt more keenly
in Wilmington and the territory ada
cent thereto. owing to the abnormal
population due to the war industries
located in this section. As an illustra-
ton of this increased demand, it may
be stated that Wilmington received in
the fiscal year 1867, an approximate
ly normal year 14O, ,831 tons of domestic
sizes. while in the year 1918 it re-
ceived l:6, $50 tons.
Although increased population does
not necessarily mean an increased con-
sumption, yet we have confronting us
the fact of an abnormal number of new
homes to be erected in Wilmington this
year by the U. S. Government and indi-
vidual enterprises, amounting to at
least 1000 houses, which does not re-
quire much explanation to convince any,
one of an increased consumption.
AS this shortage represents about
per cent. of the estimated requirements
of this State, it is therefore necessary
to look to the use of Bituminous Coal to
take its place, and as it is the desire of
Washington as we'll as ourselves that
domestic consumption should at all times
have first call upon Anthracite Coal,
we believe that if all factories, public
buildings and stores, which have been
accustomed to using Anthracite Coal,
will wherever possible change to BIZ
luminous Coal, that the needs of do
mestic consumers can be taken care of,
providing that we receive the entire
tonnage as allotted.
The people of Delaware must bear in
mind, that these are War Times, and
that the eastern section of the country
is bound to feel the effect of the war
much more torcibly, owing to the vast
number of war industry plants located
in this section. thereby creating a trans
portation condition which is almost i'm
possible for the railroads to overcome.
In order that domestic consumers may
have first preference to the available
Anthracite Coal. it was deemed wise
that every dealer within the State be
notified that no orders, of domestic size
of Anthracite. for factories, public
buildings or stores, should be filled until
such times as all domestic orders have
been taken care of, and no deviation
from this order will be allowed, unless
permission is first obtained from the
Member of the State Organization in
the various districts.
1t has come to our attention that the
dealers are being held up in the deliver
ing of their orders numerically, due to
the scarcity Of Stove size. This condi-
ton is brought about by the vast guam
titles of this size which al e used )y the
Government in taking care of the vari-
GUS camps and cantonments. 1t, there
fore, becomes necessary that consumers
will have to go to other sizes, principally
Egg, which can be used in most in
stances without any inconvenience.
This same condition applies somewhat
to Chestnut size as well and the COM
mittee feels that the public will not
only be aiding the dealer in making de-
liveries in the order in which they are
placed, but assist the Government as
well by accepting, when necessary. that
size which next best suits their needs,
rather than insisting upon a particular
size.