Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-14
COAL ENOUGH TO KEEP
VERM ONTERS WAR N
Company Which Supplies State
With Three-Quarters of Sup
ply for Domestic Purposes
Will Meet All Requirements,
Says Official at Conference

that came out of a conference held
in this city yesterday. 1t appeared
that about the normal amount Of coal
had been shipped into the State since
the first of last April, and that the
operators and transportation COM
panies fully expect to supply the
State with It's quota. As n result Of the
conference. Governor Clement who
called the men together, expressed
himself as being we'll pleased with the
situation and believes that vermonters
will suffer no hardships because Of a
lack of fuel.
Present at the conference were w
II. Williams senior vice president of
the Hudson Coal company: G. r. Jarvis
general manager of the Rutland Rail
road; J. W. Wardlaw. general manager
of the Central Vermont railway;
George Cassidy, general freight agent,
of the Rutland road; a number of coal
dealers from various parts Of the
State and n representative OF the min
ers. Mr.. Williams represented the COM
panies which ship about 20 per cent of
Vermonts coal into the State.
The meeting was called in the Hotel
Van Ness but afterwards adjourned to
Mr. Williams car 400" which stood
on track near the railroad station.
+.
Williams car the following statement
was issued by him to Mr. Clemnet in
explanation of the fuel situation in
Burlington, as we'll as other parts Of
Vermont:
MIR. WILLIAMS STATEMENT
Burlington, VT. Oct. 10. 1920
His Excelency,
the Governor of Vermont
The Hon. Percival w. Clement
Montpelier. VT.
Dear sir
Referring to the conference with rep
resentatvee o fthe railroads serving Yer
mont, and the larger dealers who sell and
distribute coal for consumption In that
state which was held In Burlington this
morning.
In accordance with your request. It af-
fords me pleasure to reduce to writing
the statements I then made, viz:
The quantity of domestic sizes OF an
thracte allotted to the State Of Yer
mont by the United States Fuel Admin
lstration aggregated 316.s5O tons. During
the coal year ended March g. 1919 two
months estimated). the quantity Of coal
delivered for Consumtion In Vermont ag-
gregated 315215 tons. Therefore, 1t would
appear that the total tonnage Of domes-
tic sizes of anthracite required annually
to meet the needs Of the citizens of YER
mont is between $4,000 and $4,000 TONS
During the coal year ended March 81
1918, the Hudson Coal company sold for
delivery in the State Of Vermont 900, s49
tons and during the year ended March
81. 1920, 24s,Sl6 tons so that this company
produces between 10 and 80 per cent of
the total tonnage of domestic sizes of
anthracite in ha Cfota 80
mont.
Our program for the coal year ending
March 81, 1921, contemplates delivery Of
255,S76 tons OF domestic sizes OF anthra-
cite FOR movement to Vermont On the
basis of equal monthly deliveries this
would call for 1888 tons for the first half
of the coal year. that Is, for the six
months ending September 80. 1920 During
said six months the actual deliveries ag-
gregated 1924 tons. or within 200 tons
of our program. These deliveries have
been accomplished Notwithstanding a sub
stantial reduction in our total produc-
don for said period.
! In making the distribution of this coal,
1t has been the practice so far as con-
ditons would permit to give to each
community its fair proportion Of the total
| so that each community has received
approximately 50 per cent OF the tonnage
! allotted 10 it for the coal year
We are behind in our program about
l,lU tons for the city Of Burlington and
about 500 tons for the town of Manches-
ter, otherwise, the tonnage to each COM
munity is approximately the program
figures for the said six months period.
Unless some causes beyond our con-
troll intervene. we expect to deliver to the
several communities of the State of YER
mont approximately the tonnage called
for by our program and which, as stated
above. amounts in the aggregate to 255.
SIG tons out of a total Of $4,000 or $780,
600 tons required from all sources.
With few exceptions. l am of the opin-
ion that the present feeling OF alarm,
as to the anthracite coal supply for the
' State of Vermont Is. in common with
he situation in other States due to feel.
ing of alarm rather than due to an ac.
tual shortage In the quantity Of coal de.
livered to date. This situation may be-
attributed to two causes. first, the news
paper articles which have caused the
people to believe there Is an actual short
age in production and, second, the de-
sire of the dealers TO convert their Goa
into cash as quickly as possible in or
der to meet their financial obligation.
and TO prevent other dealers making In
roads on their trade.
The first cause has resulted in cor
sumers placing orders for q greater guam
tity of coal than normally for this time
OF the year, and the second cause, ha.
resulted in the dealer increasing his de
liveries and. therefore. having on hane
little, IL any coal, with which to NEE
urgent requirements
May / suggest for your consideration
the desirability of assuring the citizens
OF your State that there is a REASONABLE,
! expectation of receiving a normal suppl,
oil coal and at least sufficient to pre-
vent suffering, and, further, to sugges
TO the dealers that instead OF filling al
orders as quickly as received they retain
or hand, say, approximately a fifteer
days supply for the purpose of meeting
the half ton and single ton orders ant
, meet any emergency growing out of tenn
porary cessation in mining or Interrupt
tons to transportation. II this cours,
be pursued all should receive sufficient
coal to meet their actual necessities.
Having in mind the experience gained
by those actually, engaged in the Goa
. trade during the activities of the Unite,
states Fuel Administration. 1t occurs L
, me that 1t would be, well In all cases
! where complaints OF shortage In suppl!
are made, that all OF the dealers OF the
town be required to submit to you state
ment showing the quantity OF coal the!
! have received from each source of sup
ply during each of the two or three pre-
ceding years, and the quantity the,
have received from each source during
the current year. With this information
IL will be possible to determine whethe
, the shortage Is imaginary or real and
, If the latter, 1t will facilitate inquiry a.