Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-09
RAILROADS LET
DEALERS have
EASTERN COAL
Official Says Panic Not Warranted
Since Coal for Necessities
Is Plentiful

There is NO occasJon. for domes,,
tic consumers of coal or power 70
get in . panic about the SHORTAGE
Of coal or to imagine they will
freeze to death or suffer other pri-
vations," said Leo g. Rylands. car
distributor for the Rock .lslan6
lines, today. "The railroads have
eastern coal sum eient to keep such
things from happening, and will re-
lease It for meritorious purposes.
But We have no coal for dealers TO
hoard up or for curb speculatofs
or jobbers to get. We must always
be satisfied Of the actual need &
coal before II 10 released, whether:
the parties asking 1t have ~ 9
consigned or not"
That sums up tho general situa-
ton today. Eastern coal from
West Virginia is coming through
here every day. It II coal purchas-
ed by the railroad administration
and distributed to coaltng points all
over the United States. While on
the way there some portion q u
NAV be diverted for other purposes,
where the need for it IL very urg-
ent. Application 70 the railroad OF
Aces can secure It's release. As Mr.
Rylands stated today, this eastern
coal II % II always has been-ex-
pensive. For instance. to secure
any amount Of It one must pay the
shipping charge from West VIZ
xinia here, which IL about $4.15 per
TIN. A deposit Of a must be made
to the railroad to cover the actual
cost Of the coal. Then the pur-
chaser will have secured the coal
Is It lies In cars at the local freight
depot.
Notify Road IN Time.
A special point is made by the
railroad authorities that dealers
should notify the road several days
before his supply was exhausted
30 that preparation could be made
to issue them other consignment
| II their customers are proved to b<
| In real need. This only applies t
those dealers who have no ship.
menfs consigned to them and held
ON tracks by the railroads. Troubl.
is daily being made at the yard OF
fices by last minute applications
where dealers make hurry-up cal
for coal and expect it to be deliv
cred within Q few hours. 1t 10 |
hard proposition to divert this I'd
ministration coal, and ordinaril!
takes several days Of negotiating
according to road ohicials. +
! Another thing they are warnet
to guard against 10 petftioning TO
coal to the wrong yard. Any appli
cation for coal must be made t
the road which ordinarily serve
1.-THE applicant. II the yard neediIN
coal Is on the Burlington the re
quest must go there. or to the Roc
Island II the yard IL on that line.
1.-THE way to handle this emery
ency," said Mr.. Rylands. sis to us
system and care. The more excite
ment and panic there IL about tn
shortage, the more tfoubls Their
will be for everyone concerned
since common sense and fore
thought IL what IL needed"
Cut Priority List
An order from the administer
ton today Instructed roads tha
coal is not to be delivered, eithe
released or sold. to parties in thos
classes below A to E in the priofit
list established by the administrs
ton. That excludes all consumer
mot classified ~ (A) railroads. (B
J army and navy. with other govern
mental departments, (C) state an
county departments and institution
as we'll a. municipal, CD publ
utilities and newspapers. and q
retail dealers In coal. These Nv
! will be able to purchase or secur
releases on coal Il needful.
The following exceptions to th
rule will be considered, aceordtn
! to the order:
Coal~to keep plants manufactul
, | ing yeast for baking purposes.
Delivery OF coal to greenhouse
to prevent Pressing. II cannot b
undertaken to provide coal for fu
operation.
; Cold storage plants: Sufficient
maintain refrigeration and prever
loss Of foodstui5s.
:, Meat packing establishments
, sufficient coal from day to day I
, continue slaughtsrinS and maintai
j refrigeration on condition they wi
. discontinue the use Of coal for b,
: product plants and that they col
vert to oil burners as soon ~ pc,
. sible.
Ill Creameries and other manufa,
fturers where perishable foodstuf
must be projected.
Grain elevators.
Coal sufficient to protect indul
. trial plants not IN operation, fro
d1fifs end freezing. although the ii
problem should be provided whs