The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-04
Big Stores Cd;
= Small Ones Are
Getting Other Fuels

Although no concerted action has
been taken by the merchants Of tho
city. the department stores and larger
business houses have informally de-
cIded to continue closing at I nm. and
opening at . AM. for the remainder
Of the week, and IN the mc9ntmc exert
every effort to Obtain from the fuel
administration relief from tho discrimI
nation against tho cities NJ the South
eastern region in compelling the stores
using coal 20 close one hour earlier
than the stores at st Louis Little
Rock Ark, snd other cities In the
southwestern region,
II by Monday permission II not
granted to remain open untll pm"
as the merchants west OF the MtssiS-
sippi river are allowed 10 do, the local
department stores viii take up the mat
ter Of providing light and heat without
drawing upon the use Of coal, wood or
their products in accordance with the
modified ruling issued from Atlanta
wednesday afternoon, ana rs the small
lcr stores OF the city arc now arrRnRN
Ing to do 1T once.
In the absence Of any agent OF tho
fuel administration or any local orRani-
cation tp interpret the orders and the
modified rulings Of the regional fuel
committee nj Atlanta, great confusion
among the business men of the city
follows every order issued at Atlanta,
and In the end II II left un to each IN
dividual merchant to decide for him
self aR to how the orders Apply 10 ME-
particular husneSsG
Most Of tho PROJECTORS Of soda toun
tains and cigar stands have decided 70
remain open after p m, and to open
before n m. when they can proNide
heat and Hight without drawing upon
the supply 81 coal wood and gas
Where soda fountains and cigar stands
are operated in connection with drug
stores and restaurants, which, accord
ing to the original order were allowed
TO remain open, tho consensus OF op'n,
ion prevails that such places may sell
tobaccos and soft drinks WIN uart-
atricted hours N no additional Hight or
heat X required, and accordingly most
drug stores and restaurants viii not
| close their fountains and cigar stands
| hereafter No concerted action or
| agreement among the dealers has been
| arrived Mt ia regard to this matter
| however
Most Of the exclusive cigar stores and
| confectionery stores propose to open at
| 7 a NJ and close about 6 n m, according
| 10 weather conditions II tho weather
| is extremely cold the hours Will he cut
| down, but II the weather Is mild and
business brisk they propose TO remain
| open later,
Wednesday night some Of tho cigar
| stands were open and some were not
I
Nke,uise n number Of restaurants and
drug stores continued the sale OF soft
! drinks and tobacco after nm, and
others refused To sell after that hour,
| according to the INTERPRETATION placed
| nv the propriNtors on the modified rul'
| ines issued Wednesday afternoon,
There was 265 cars Of conl in the
| Memphis terminal Thursday as com
nnred with 3l4 Wednesday and 2ba
| Tuesday The amount Of coal In the
| local Yards Is not effected in any way by
| the saving of coal through the conser-
walton orders. but depends entirely upon
| the amount OF coal received with rela
| ton TO the number Of cars awarded to
! local essential Industries Tho amount
| OF coal saved nv the gas and electric
company through the conserva ton
measures In only about 60 tons per d7v
| or about two car loads The closing
| order enables the larre office buildings
| and department stores to save from two
to four tons Of coal each, which alto
gether amounts to only few cars per
! duN