Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-05
WANTS WEEKLY REPORTS
FROM ALL FUEL DEALERS
Fuel Administrator Byrd Issues Gen.
oral Bulletin us to
Shortage.
SITUATION MOST CRITICAL
Desires to Find Requirements of
Each Community So That Scarcity
May Be Borne Equally by All Lo-
caliticS.

Harry Flood Byrd. Federal fuel ad-
ministrator for Virginia. yesterday
aent tho following letter to all retailers
OF fuel in Virginia:
BULLETIN -.
TO Ali Retailers in the State of Eir-
ginia:
Through the local fuel commissions
this office Is endeavorinE to ascertain
the following:
]. The approximate consumption Of
each coal-receiYin. poin, In Virginia
for the months OF January, February
and March.
.. The existing contracts. and to
what extent these contracts can be de-
pended upon TO supply the require
lnents.
TO ascertain this Information have
sent to every fuc, commission in Viz
Einia forms and full Information for
compiling the data desired. This is to
ASK your cooperation. so that the local
iuel commissions can obtain this iufor-
nation as promptly a. possible and
forward 10 me. IL is obvious that with
this information at hand, I can much
more intciligently proceed to supply
the necessary requirements throughout
the State OF Virginia.
Please forward me- on reports in
closed Monday. January :, and every
Monday thereafter. full Information re-
carding your coal receipts and quantity
on hand for the Saturday preceding.
This report is 10 be made up on each
Saturday night and mailed TO me on
Monday. In lac event tina, you do not
receive any coal. please so state and
return the report. Under separate
cover n supply Of reports and ranked
envelopes IL bein. sent YOU. 50 that
these reports eau he mailed without;
postage.
The coal situation throughout Viz
Sinia. as well as elsewhere III IN"
United States is reaching ? most c,.ti-
cal stage. BY reason Of the contiuua-
lion OF existing contracts. only > per
cent OF tho output O: the mines IS avail
ablo for government distribution. In
all cases the fuel administration d.
sires TO obtain the requirements OF each
community from existing contracts or
from parties who have previously sup
piled.
shortage Of 5Q,n0Q.O0o tons exists
This shortage must be borne equally by
All communities. and in no case can
normal requirements be supplied
want you 20 understand that every Fl
fort on my part viii be excrted toward
furnishing your community, through
YOUR local commissions. with your
minimum needs. ! can make no prom
!se, however. IS 10 coal shipments. bu:
upon receipt OF request viii eadcavor
10 keep each loca! commission advised.
The tuel administration must view
the coal situation from the standpoint
OF the entire community, and not from
the standpoint ot the individual! re-
taller. That Is 10 say. providing that
community as whole is securing
sufficient coal. the administration Viii
not exert efforts TO obtain shipments
from such retailers who arc w!thou,
supplies unless the needs oil the com.
inunity as whole justify II, am
certain that by reason OF the existing
crisis In the coal situation the just!c.
OF this policy Will be readily apprcc!-
ated.
Please appeal 10 the !uc. admins
,sstion only when YOU have exhausted
every other effort to obtain coa,.
Please understand il is NOT the tunc-
ton OF the fuel administration to sun.
ply all fuel requirements. hut only 10
endeavor TO supply emergency Goa,
when your own efforts have been OK
hausted.
l ask your cooperation in maki,r
these reports very promptly. This vii,
DO OF great value TO ME In securing the
essential requirements Of your loca,,,w
Very truly yours.
fSisned) II. +. BYRD
ederai Fuel Administrator for Viz
Elnia.