Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-02
MANY SECTIONS OF State
SHORT OF FUEL SUPPLY
Administrator Byrd Divcrts Coal
Cars to Norfoll, and New
port News.
AUTHORITY FROM GARFIELD
Warming Is Issued Against Inferior
Quality Of Coal-SamplcS TO BE
AnaIyzed and Graded by Govern
mcnt Chemists.

Much suffering OH account OF the
lack OF coal has been reported from
different sections of the country and
from certain cities In Virginia. Nor
folk. Newport News and Hampton arc
Particularly in need Of coal. the situa-
ton in those cities being very bad
The fuel administrator for the State OF
Virginia. Harry Flood Byrd has or
dercd thirty cars Of coal diverted TO
Norfolk. eight cars TO Newport News
and six cars to Hampton. According
TO an order from tho national fuel adj
m!nistration, state fuel administrators
arc allowed to divert cars in transit to
places where there is tho greatest
scarcity of coal.
Mr.. Byrd received the following tele-
gram from National Fuel Administrator
Garfield:
In order to secure 4 more equitable
distribution of coal and to prevent cases
of individual suffering and suspension
OF service of public utilities from lack
OF such distribution. the undersigned
has made a regulation, n copy of which
will be sent you. under which any
State fuel administrator may withiP
his State divert to tho use of domestic
consumers or Of public utilities any
coal while in transit or prior to its
actual delivery to any conSigncc i'll
such State and intended for any use
other than domestic consumption or the
operation of a public utility. You arc
authorized to take such action in cases
whcro the same seems TO YOU neccS-
Sary."
WARNS AGAINST SALE
OF INFE:RIOR COAL
Mr.. BYRD also reports that he has
received many complaints from people
throughout the state to the effect that
inferior grades of coal arc being sup
piled by certain mines. In order TO
toll ,.l1
tage Of the situation by supplying in
fcrior grade coal, Mr. Byrd has dis
patched letters to all the fuel commits
sons of the state, calling upon them
to investigate the charges against tho
mines and to make report to him. Fol-
lowing is the order from State Admin
istrator Byrd TO local fuel commissions:
"a great many complaints have been
received by me of tho inferior grade of
coal that is now being supplied by Ger
tain mines. 1.havc made arrangements
with the United States Bureau Of Mines
OF the Department OF the Interior.
Washington, d. c., to sample coal when
the quality is considered inferior and
not in accordance with asrccmcnt.
Please notify the retailers throughout
your section that samples should be
taken in the following manner, the
weight Of the sample TO be about five
pounds:
SAMPLES TO BT; ANALIZED
AND GRADED IN WASHINGTON
Sample is TO he addressed to the
Bureau of Mines, Washington, ID. -. in
a safe container, and sent by parcel
post, with statement Enclosed giving
name and address Of the sender OF the
sample. the name of the mine from
which the coal was purchased and tho
grade provided for by the agreement
AT tho same time send full information
to this office. Upon receipt OF ana lysis
will communicate with tho mine and
ascertain whether a just claim for re-
fund exists, and l will also warn tho
mine making shipment that tho proper
grade OF coal must be furnished.
III it is generally known that the
government intends to analyze the
grades OF coal, this should have a very
helpful influence in compelling the
mines to furnish coal exactly in ac-
cordancc with contract. Due to the
scarcity of coal md tho elimination OF
competition. it has been very evident
that in many cases the grade of coal
furnished has been inferior and not up
TO contract requirements.
ANY member of your local commits
sion can send this coal under govern
ment frank. by using ono of the of
fetal envelopes without charge; il the
sample. however. is sent by the retailer
regular postage must be paid"