Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-12-04
GOVERNMENT PUTS
THE LID ON COAL
Wartime Restrictions Ordered
by the Fuel Administration.
GOES INTO EFFECT AT ONCE
Only Industries in the First FiVe
Glasses of the Priority List Es-
tablshed During War Will Re-
ceive Coal.


strictions on the consumption of coal
were ordered into effect for the perl
Cd of the present strike emergency.
Fuel Administrator Garfield, acting
in conjunction with the railroad ad-
ministration, announced that only the
industries included in the first five
classes of the priority list established
during the war would be furnished
coal, and the public utilities would
be asked to discontinue furnishing
power, heat and light to nonessent1al
industries.
Industries That Get Coal.
The Industries to which coal Will
be furnished will be railroads, coast
wise and inland shipping, army and
navy and other government depart
ments, state and county departments
and institutions, public utilities, in
Guiding newspapers, and retail dealers
supplying household consumers.
State and local authorities, DR.. Gar
field said, will be asked to cooperate,
though the rationing Of coal will be
done through the regional coal COM
mittees set up by the railroad admin
istration.
Railroad administration officials
conceded that the application Of the
order would mean an industrial shut
down Of considerable magnitude, but
declined to make a definite estimate.
Industrial establishments operating
from their own power plants, 1T was
said, probably would have to stop
when their present coal supply became
exhausted.
Industries operating on power sup
piled by public utility companies may
continue operation unless the man
agement of the public utility COM
panies supplying them and the local
authorities rule that they are nones-
sential. For the present the railroad
administration will not attempt to
lay down a rule as to what is an es-
sential industry.
For Essential Uses Only.
"It is necessary that coal shall be
used only for essential purposes"
said DR.. Garfield's statement, explain
ing the governments action. "Public
utilities consuming coal should discOn-
tinue to furnish power, heat and light
to nonessential industries and should
only consume sufficient coal to pro-
duce enough light, power and heat
to meet the actual urgent needs of the
people, Advertising signs and dis
plays of various kinds necessitating
the use of coal should be curtailed
and no coal should be distributed for
such purpose.
Pursuant to this policy I have re-
quested the railroad administration in
the distribution of coal now or here
after in it's possession to limit distri-
button to these essential and urgent
uses. AS far as practicable until the
conditions warrant a change, the dis
tribution of coal will be limited to
the first five classes of the priority
list.
Cautions Retailers.
"Retaii dealers who distribute coal
for household requirements, heating
hotels, buildings, hospitals, etc., should
take every precaution to see that coal
is only delivered where it is absolute
iy required, and then only in such
limited quantities that the supply may
be distributed widely and prevent suf-
fering.
''The state and other local authOri-
ties can materially aid in inspecting
and supervising such distribution by
retail dealers, and the United States
government will be glad to leave the
supervision and control Of such distri-
button by retail dealers entirely to any
state, county or municipality which
may make provision therefor.
'The distribution to the retail deal
ers must necessarily be administered
by the railroad administration in pur-
suance of the orders already made by
the United States fuel administration
in carrying out the priorities which
have been prescribed under the Lever
act"