Evening journal., 1918-06-10
COAL Shortage N
CITY IS Predicted
Anthracite Allotment for
Fiscal Year 22,053 Tons
Below Requirements
HOMES WILL BE
SUPPLIED FIRST

The anthracite distributing commit
tee Of the L. S. Fuel Administration re-
Gently announced the allotment Of an
thracite coal TO Delaware for the com
Ing year. These figures were the sub
icct Of discussion at a meeting Of the
Delaware State Organization Of the
Fuel Administration, held In the du-
Pont Building on Friday and the State
Board authorized the following state
ment Issued for the Information Of the
public. These are the lrst figures or
statistics which have been issued by the
state Board and contain some interest
ing information regarding the coal sit
uatlon last year:
The figures az compiled by the an
thraclte committee show that In the
fscal year 1861. there were shipped
222, ,j03 tons OF domestic sizes TO Della
ware. end in proportion 10 the esiimet-
ed production OF anthracite coal FOR this
year. they have allotted TO this State
an increase OF 10 per cent. over these
figures. namely, 245,s53 tons. which, In
the opinion OF the State Board. is not
sufficient 20 take care OF the necessary
demands. unless some restrictions are
put upon certain classes Of consumers.
IN presenting our ilgurres TO the
anthracite distributing committee OF
what we believed were the minimum
quantities necessary. we asked for 261.-
9O5 tons Of domestic sizes, making a
difference between this amount and
that which was allotted TO us Of 22053
tens, which means an absolute short
age. even II we were TO receive every
ton that has been allotted
This shortage will he felt more
keenly in Wilmington and the terri
tory adjacent thereto, owing 10 the alb
normal population incident 10 the war
Industries located In this section. As
an illustration Of this Increased de-
m1nd it may be stated that Whining
ton received in the fiscal year 1916
A an approximately normal year, ii0S3i
tons OF domestic sizes. while IN the year
i9i7-is. u received iJ7 $50 tons. Although
increased population does not necessar-
ily mean increased coal consumption.
set we have confronting us the fact
OF an abnormal number Of new homes
TO be erected in Wilmington this year
by the L. :. government and individual
enterprises, amounting 20 at least 1000
houses. which does not require much
explanation TO convince anyone OF an in
creased consumption.
"As this shortage represents about
per cent. Of the estimated requirements
OF this state. Il Is Therefore necessary
to look TO the use OF bituminOus coal
90 take its place; and as it Is the
desire Of Washington as well as our.
selves that domestic consumption should
az all times have first call upon an
th-acite coal. we believe that IL al
factories. public buildings and storel
which have been accustomed TO MS
ing anthracite coal will, wherever pos
sible, change TO bituminous coal. tina
the needs Of domestic consumers car
be met, providing that we receive th'
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 forcibly. owing 10 the vast
number Of war industry plants located
in this section, thereby creating a
transportation condition which is al
most Impossible for the railroads to
overcome.
In order that domestic consumers
may have the nrst preference to the
available anthracite coal supply, II
was deemed wise that every dealer
within the State be notified that no or
ders Of domestic sizes Of anthracite coal
FOR factories. public buildings or stores
should be nned until such times as
all domestic orders have been cared
for. and no deviation from this order
will be permitted. unless permission
first Is obtained from a member OF the
State Board for this district
~ has been brought 90 the atten-
tion Of the board that dealers are be-
ing delayed In the delivery OF their
orders numerically. due 10 the scarcity
Of stove size. which condition Is caused
by the vast quantities Of this size coal
which are used by the government at
the various army camps and canton
ments. Therefore. Il becomes necessary
that consumers will have TO accept
other sizes. principally egg coal. which
can he used. In most instances, with
out any inconvenience.
This same condition applies some
what 10 the chestnut size, and the COM
mittee feels that the public Will not
only be aiding the dealer to make de-
liveries IN the order in which they are
placed but will assist the govern
ment as well by accepting, when nee
essary. that size which next best suits
their needs. rather than insisting upon
~Nr