The Washington times., 1919-12-05
Of COAL
TO HIT FLATS
AND OFFICES
Majority of HousehoIders Have
SuppIy-Utilities Well Pro-
vided With Fuel.

supply of bituminous coal is not re-
plenished within the very near future
/ local coal dealers said today.
The supply of anthracite coal in
Washington-chiefiy used in homes,
| was reported to be fairly good" to-
day, and shipment of such coal was
said to be normal. The majority of
Washington home consumers have al
ready laid in the winter supply, hav-
ing been benefited by the experience
of the winter of 1917-1S, and, in view
of the fact that shipments of anthra-
cite coal have not been diminished be-.
cause of the bituminous situation, it
is unlikely that local homes will. he
| without coal this winter.
Washington dealers report few
sales in the domestically consumed
grades, owing to the fact that such
supplies were purchased during the
| summer
Must Use AntAraeite.
Large consumer. of bituminous
coal, such as apartment houses, office
buildings, factories and large depart
ment stores will have to turn to an
thracite, from the present outlook. il
was said, or do without coal this win
ter.
The plants of many such consumers
are readily adaptable to the use of
hard coal. but large number Of the
plants Of soft-coal-using establish
ments may and 1t difficult to make
such change.
Most apartment houses dealers re-
ported, have from thirty to sixty days
supply Of coal in reserve. and dealers
are furnishing them with their daily
needs SO that the reserve may not be
drawn upon only in the most urgent
necessity.
The last shipment Of bituminous
coal over the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal is expected to Drive today or
tomorrow. Three boatloads will ar
rive in this shipment, which was
loaded in the bituminous regions be-
fore the strike
May AdA to Vacations.
As . means of relieving the situa-
tion, Administration officials have
under consideration q plan to add two
weeks, or possibly more, to the
Christmas holiday vacations in the
public schools and have the time
made up in June.
1t was said today that DEVELOPMENTS
within the next few weeks will de-
termine whether the proposed step
will be taken, as by that time the
strike OF the bituminous miners will
have assumed such an aspect as to
Indicate the necessity of drastic
action. In view of the gradual re-
duction in production, IL was said,
| there is a strong prospect that kid
dies throughout the land will have
protracted Christmas vacation.
Officials estimate that hundreds of
| thousands of tons would be actually
4
ton of coal to keep the school build
| ings warm is enormous One official
laid stress on the fact that the coal
would be saved" in every sense OF
the word as q result of the arrange
ment.
Announcement OF the plan will be
made in ample time to permit the
thousands of teachers to make their
arrangements accordingly, many. IL
not great majority, of the teachers
having their homes away from the
cities in which they teach.
Consideration of the plan Is the re-
suit OF action already taken by sew
eral cities in extending the Christ
mas vacations.
Bright Lights Vanish.
The bright lights OF downtown will
be missing in front OF theaters to-
night A meeting of the theater man.
ayers was held yesterday afternoon.
and IL was agreed to discontinue in
definitely the use of display electric
signs to advertise name Of theaters or
the feature being presented.
Action was taken by the theaters
as means of conserving the present
coal supply. Reports at the meeting
! yesterday showed that nearly every
theater had a sufficient supply 70 last
the entire winter.
However, yesterdays decision came
upon the motion of Roland Robbins
who pointed out that thousands of
tons of coal could be saved for the
public by cutting OF the lights in
definitely. Although most theaters are
we'll supplied, there are some where
bins are rather low.
The theater men will not endeavor
to purchase more coal and will give
the public an opportunity to draw
from the present supply on hand In
the coal yards here.
Government Has Plenty.
At the Government fuel yard ofYl-
cials state they are better OFF today
than they have been for several
weeks. The coal supply on hand in
Government buildings probably will
last for several months. The Gov
ernment yards have been receiving
coal from non-union mines, and
there are indications that the present
amount of coal coming in will con-
tinue indefinitely.
nthe mercantile establishments
there seems to be no difficulty ex-
perienced in getting coal. A greater
part OF the stores and other business
places have enough coal on hand to
last two or three months.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company and Potomac Electric
Power Company points out that IL
has been necessary to go into the re-
serve supply. There are no indica-
tions that a serious situation is like
ly to result very soon. as the pres
ent upely will carry the companies
for many Aaya