The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-04-26
REASONS FOR LAYING
IN YOUR FUEL NOW

Jefferson City, Mo-, April 10, 1918.
To the Editor
AS matter of news of Importance
to your readers and your community
the statement is made for your infor-
nation that retail coal dealers must
be licensed by the State Fuel Admin
istrator, Wallace Crossley, for the
coal year beginning April LIST, 1879
This is in accordance with rulings OF
the Federal Fuel Administrator, DIR.
Harry A. Garfield. Blanks for appli-
cation for license are now in the hands
of local fuel committees throughout
the State.
In this connection you will permit
me to suggest that you can do
further patriotic duty by urging and
encouraging your people to buy and
| store their fuel early, whether it be
wood or coal. 1t is Of special import
ance that the buying of coal during
spring and summer months be stress
ed.
There are many good reasons why
this should be done. The paramount
reason is that every ton of coal
bought and placed in bin or cellar
now is just that much less strain on
mine production and transportation
facilities next winter when the bliz-
card season comes with attendant con-
gestion Of shipping.
Unless there Is heed given to the
repeated and frequent admonitions,
"buy coal early" by your community,
you may again suffer some of the anx-
! iety and discomforts of the past Sc
we're winter.
The early buying movement is de-
signed not only to save you from this
| but at the same time to stimulate and
encourage real production during the
months the mines and miners are idle
as rule because of the slack demand.
Chambers of Commerce, Boards of
Trade and other commercial bodies in
various parts of the country have
been working enthusiastically in sup
port of Fuel Administrator Iarfeld's
earnest exhortation to "buy your coal
early" / urge that all patriotic mer-
chants and business men generally
enlist to aid the movement by hav-
| ing placed on every letterhead, bill,
invoice or other outgoing document
the slogan, "Order your coal now and
help win the war;"
Many cities and towns are already
engaged in this patriotic work and
Others are being organized. That the
need of it is vitality imperative is
shown by recent announcement from
the Federal Fuel Administration that
the shortage of coal cars at the mines
still continues to such an extent that
production at the mines is dangerous
ly slow in consequence.
The warning from this condition is
that there should be no slump in the
slightest degree during the spring and
summer in coal production because of
lack of orders.
Already it is evident that the de-
mands of war, steadily increasing
from day to day, will test the coal
hauling capacity of the railroads to
the utmost during the coming winter.
If there is to be a guarantee against
the recurrence of those "heatless
days" and "lightless nights" which
caused discomfort and inconvenience
last winter, it will be because individ-
ual consumers are forsighted enough
to fill their coal bins between now and
the first of September.
! thank you in anticipation of your
loyal and patriotic cooperation in
placing this situation effectively be-
fore the people of your community.
WALLACE CROSSLEY,
State Fuel Administrator.
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