Evening star., 1918-01-11
ORDERS ARE ISSUED
TO RUSH COAL HERE
Fuel Administrator Garfield
Acts Quickly on Learning
Of Local Conditions.
WEAVER APPEALS DIRECT

Seriousness of the coal situation in
washington was SO impressed on DR.,
Harry A. Garfield. United States fuel
administrator. last night, that he is-
sued pre-emptorys orders for immediate
relief. Surplus supplies of the federal
and District governments are to be
m&dS available for domestic use. and
coal In transit is to be diverted to this
city until the danger line has been
pa assed.
DR.. Gartie1d promised. and he put the
promise in the form of orders to his
suoordinates. that Washington shall
nave daily average Of 2.400 tons of
antnracite. The daily average in recent
weeks has not exceeded 1900 tons. In
ADDITION. such increased shipments of
SOFT coal are to be sent here as NAV be
ments.
Goes Direct to Head.
Having made prolonged but futile ef-
forts to get action through A. L. snead
ana Jesse c. Suter. officials of the fed
eral fuel administrator charged with
responsibility for keeping Washington
IN coal. John L. Weaver, the District
1uel administration. last night went
over the1r heads and appealed directly
to DR.. Garfield
Mr.. Weaver was accompanied to the
Gonference by District Commissioner
Brownlow, c. F. FadeIey, chairman Of
the dealers executive committee on CO.
ordination; E. F. Colladay, a member of
mittee representing citizens associa-
tfons. and E. B. Eynon, who has been
IN charge OF the emergency distribution
OF coai. Dr Garfield called into the con-
ference , v; E. Hope, his chief assistant;
Mr.. Snead and A. r. Learoy, who has
charge of the national distribution of
anthracite coal.
Plain speaking characterized the con-
ference. Mr.. Weaver told Dr. GARFIELD
that the promise OF the fuel adminis-
government and therefore an essential
war Industry, should have coal had
not been kept. He had no disposition, he
said, to criticise or blame other on
cIass' , put the plain fact spoke for IT.
self The National Capital was con-
fronted with desperate coal shortage
and the efficiency of the government IL
self was threatened. Commissioner
Brownlow and the others who accom-
panied Mr.. Weaver were equally out
spoken.
Orders Issued on the Spot.
They had no difficulty in convincing
DR.. Garfield that drastic measures were
necessary. No such situation as now
exists. he said. should have been per-
mftted to arise. The pre-emptory or
ders to Mr.. Snead and Mr. Learoy that
Washington should be kept in coal were
issued on the spot.
In accordance with DR.. Garfield's in
structions to have coal rushed here.
the fuel administration today sent tel
egraphfc orders to the mines from
which Washington draws it's coal sup
ply. apportioning among them the 9. 400
tons of anthracite which this CITY is
to have daily. Shipments under these
orders are to begin tomorrow and moth
ing Is to be allowed to interfere with
their continuance.
Fuel administration officials estimate
there are now on their way to Wash
ington $50 to 300 cars of anthracite.
which would amount to about one
days supply under the new allowance.
Arrivals of this coal now in transit
are expected to be strung over the
next three or four days. and by the
middle of next week the 2,4OO tons a
day should begin to arrive. In the
meantime the government Is prepared
to turn over to Fuel Administrator
Weaver a certain amount Of hard coal
for distribution.
In addition to these orders by. DR..
hope for speedy betterment
Of the local coal situation is found to-
day in the improved railroad conditions
reported at the Office OF Director Gem
eral McAdoo and in the plans worked
out for unifying Washington terninaI
facilities and the speeding OF
freight deliveries.