The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1919-12-03
MASS MEETING URGES
FUEL CONSERVATION
Effort Being Made to Run Power
Plant With Wood to Save
Coal-ResoIutions.

A representative citizens and bus
/ iness mems meeting was held Mon
day afternoon. at the city hall to dis
cuss plans for carrying out the new
order Of the government fuel admin
Iistrator, necessitated by the coal
strike and coal shortage. The meet
ling was called by Mr.. j. e. Seavey,
prior to the reception OF the official
document from the government pre-
scribing rules, ETC., on account of
1.-THE many persons its provisions af-
feet and the pending critical enndi-
Etion. in all business enterprises at
this season OF the year, not only in
| its effect upon employer and employe,
but upon the general public-the
Ibuyers-to whom late opening and
early closing Of all business concerns
is an important item, especially dur
ling the holiday season. The govern
ment order exempts number Of es-
sential industries, including newspa
pers. from its provisions. and will
probably be <tn effect so days or
more.
Mr.. Seavex was chosen chairman
OF the meeting, and gave considera-
tion to the various views presented
by men present as to the means sug-
gested and the satisfactory solution
Of the business problem that now
Iconfronts our local business people
and employees, as well as the country.
in general.
Mr.. J. M. Wood expressed forcibly
his view Of the situation and 1t ap-
peared. to be the desire of the meet
ing that all forms of industry be
kept moving, and by the use of wood
| Ii not coal, from the power station
on down. A portion of the time of
the body was taken up as to the war;
ious means Of getting wood from the
country roundabout to the power sta
tion where 1t could be utilized for
fuel.
It was explained before the gath
ering by the Power House Commit
tee and Mr.. r. s. Purser, superin-
tendents that only about a ton of
coal a day was now being used at
the power house as fuel, slabs being
utilized for the purpose. The state
Lment was also made that the cutting
OFF of the lights at night at any pre-
scribed time for period of hours
would save very little fuel as 1t was
necessary to keep the machinery
moving in order to supply the de-
mand for water. 500 cords of wood
had already been ordered, so the
committee said, and more was want
ed and would be gotten If possible.
Mr.. Bee, as chairman Of the commit
tee, is authorized to make contracts
on the wood deal for. the power
house.
The most serious problem, as to
the fuel shortage on coal as itAaffects
Brookhaven, is the lack of labor to
get the fuel to market, there being
any amount of available fuel in
wood If it can be gotten out of the
woods and to the city for use at the
power house or for private and bus
iness purposes.
Within some sections there is any
amount Of fat pine knots-really
more efficient as a heat producer
! than coal-that only lack labor to
es0ixe the entire problem for Brook
haven.
Various systematic ways of utiliz-
Ing our opportunities were discuss
ed.
A1luOuSu HO O1HSlhl OTuST 1dQ
been received, the power house COM
mittee even before the meeting, had
ordered all Unnecessary street lights
cut out to prevent the use of any
more fuel than absolutely necessary
at the power station.
Without q dissenting voice the
meeting adopted the following reso-
luton presented by Mr.. j. w. Nc
Grath:
Resolved, That 1t is the sense of
this meeting that we cooperate to
the fullest extent with our govern
ment in its effort to conserve fuel;
That committee of fve be ap-
pointed to interview the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen and urge them
to use saw-dust, slabs, stumps, pine
knots, wood or any other available
fuel in order to keep the city power
plant in operation and so as it will
give continuous service in order that
the holiday business will not be dis
turbed, provided of course that the
governments orders vii. permit con-
tinuous service using other fuel than
coal.
Resolved further, That this COM
mittee to be appointed by the chair
Continued on 4th page.l