The Washington times., 1918-01-01
EVEN EMERGENCY
COAL STATION CAN
NOT SECURE FUEL

There were twenty persons IN line
at e:02 o'clock this morning when the
emergency distribution station OF the
local coal administrator opened Its
doors today.
A hard coal fire burned brightly.
lighting the office at 1903 F street,
but did not give enough heat to take
the chill out of the air of the place.
ITS pretty cold in here" said one
OF the clerks energetically slapping
his hands together as he prepared to
go to work.
There's 300 tons Of coal near our
home" said q man from Clarendon,
Va. wonder will we get some Of it
today"
Stendy Stream.
A steady stream of men and women
filed IN and out Of the emergency
coal station. each leaving that office
with an order upon the local dealer
for a half ton OF soft coal, II residents
of this city. Those from adjacent
towns were Informed they must do
their own hauling.
At $50 o'clock, twenty-eight min
utes after the office opened. it was
discovered that the supply Of hard
coal used for the two stoves in the
emergency station had been exhaust
ed. There was some stir among the
clerks when they heard OF this.
Get some hard coal Immediately"
ordered the clerk in charge to a
Up to noon today more than one
and fifty Westinghouse had
applied for coal orders from the
local emergency bureau on F street.
all accepted orders for soft
coal. A few OF these refused orders
for soft coal, saying that they could
Only use hard coal.
81 know where l can get IT," said
one.
No Blank Orders.
"Get US that in writing from the
dealer who has II to deliver, and viii
do so to you. Well issue an order
upon him forthwith" replied the chief
clerk to the much aroused resident
who insisted he could obtain hard
GOAL II me fuel administrator would
issue him a blank order.
1--WE simply cannot issue blank or
5ers. We must know the name OF
The dealer and his location. We must
nave something in writing from him
that will show us that he has hard
coal to deliver to you, then We Will
act" was the final word from the
bureaus chief clerk.
Shortly after IL o'clock today clerks
n the office Ct the emergency station
we're seurrying around for wood and
Did newspapers to keep the two fires
going.
There was no coal obtainable. was
lie message brought in by the subor-
Innate who had been sent out shortly
after $3.50 this morning on a hunt for
he elusive anthracite.
Long before the office opened a
group Of men and women stood near
The emergency station chilled to the |
bone, but burning with Indignation |
II the coal situation" as ]. p. Koer- |
her, OF 1924 Wisconsin avenue, put
{. william Cuttings, OF S35 Twenty |
sixth street northwest; Mrs. Benja-
min Greene, a neIghbor, and a letter |
carrier, who did not care to give his
name, were in the line.
At $40 the first sign OF life showed
within the office, when some one was |
ieard pokfng At the stove. 1t took !
learly twenty minutes to prepare the
Ire. Two, minutes after o o'clock
he crowd began TO enter the doors.
A delegation OF Virginians, who
lad called upon The Times to tell
Il their treatment at the station yes
erdsy. were among the first twenty
i've persons admitted.
They returned TO Washington in
m automobile after making vain eff
orts yesterday and today in Vir-
'iniS to set coal !