Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-06-26

Brunswick with estimated require
ments for the ensuing year amount
Ing to $4,000 tons, has at present an
allotment from the national admin
stration Of $4,000. while Perth Amboy
with estimated needs Of nearly 10000
tons has an allotment Of less than
$4,000 tons. The estimated needs of
various other communities in Middle
sex County exceed the present allot-
ments by similar ratios. Figures and
data have been collected from all deal
ers In the County and systematic
effort based on this data is being
made by the County Administration
to have the allotments for Middlesex
County increased. These figures and
additional data, showing the growth
Of the county, due both to natural ex-
pansion and war industry, have been
laid before the National administration
by State Administrator Jenkinson In
conjunction with the Middlesex County
Administration.
"The important point to be borne
In mind Is that the allotment may not
all be received. The allotment repre-.
serts the amount which the National
Administration expects to be able to
furnish If things go smoothly, but II
production or transportation should
be hindered the allotment may not all
be forthcoming.
Consumers are. therefore urged to
use the utmost economy in coal CON
sumption. Gas and gasoline should be
fused for summer cooking and not coal.
Fires should be started late ana IN
every possible way coal should DE
economized. There will certainly be
coal shortage the bad effects of which
can be diminished largely by coal
economy. -,
Consumers have been urged to file
coal cards with their dealers even
though the dealer has not the coal 70
deliver, for two reasons: First, the
cards aid in estimating the require
ments Of the community, and second,
the cards furnish the information by
which it is possible to make as equit-
able distribution of the available sup
ply, or to put it conversely, an eQu>t.
able distribution of the threatened
shortage. .
There seems to be misunderstood
ing as to the effect Of signing a coal
card. Many think that the card is
contract on the dealers part to supply
the coal ordered. That Is not true
The filing of q coal card merely OBJ
ligates the dealer to deliver coal IN
one-third portions to those signing
cards under the regulations of
the fuel administration, as his stock
of coal permits. Frequently coal
dealers have absolutely no coal on
hand for delivery. and the delivery OF
coal to Middlesex county has been 30
slow that many dealers have dis.
charged some of their drivers and
have laid off some of their teams.
MANY of those who have signed
cards have not as yet received thelr
first third and the entire delivery OF
the first third will not be competed
until some time along In the summer
Customers will not receive their sec
ond third until the dealer with whom
their card Is filed has completed the
delivery OF the first third to all of his
customers. This distribution is under
the regulations of the fuel admins
tration and any dealer who violates
the regulations Is subject to fne or
temporary suspension Of his business
Another important point is that
the price of coal Is subject to change
| by the administration. There Will
probably soon be an increase IN
| freight rates and, II 80, new prloe
will be fixed allowing the dealer the
amount of that increase. In the event
| all undelivered coal requisitioned by
| consumers cards will be subject to
| the Increase and the dealer will be
permitted to charge the increased
price. The dealer. at present, re-
ceives a fixed price based upon his
costs as of April 1. 1t would mani
testify be unfair to charge against him
an Increased freight rate not contem-
plated on that date. Furthermore,
the price as fixed was expressly sub
1ect to change.
I'm conclusion the administration
desires the public to understand the
gravity of the situation and to en-
phasize the urgent need Of the utmost
economy in coal consumption