Evening star., 1920-10-14
ID. c. COAL DEALERS
| RATION SUPPLY FOR
| CURRENT USE ONLY
impossible to Secure Enough
for All for the Entire
Winter.

Retail coal dealers in the District
Of Columbia have put into operation
a system Of coal rationing by which
the consuming public is not allowed
enough coal to all it's needs for the
winter. but is allowed enough for cur
rent consumption. This has been
done. dealers say, because OF the pres
ent impossibility to secure enough
coal in Washington to supply needs
Of all consumers for the entire
winter.
Dealers believe that within a
month the shortage Of coal In the
and that by that time the supply OF
coal coming into the District OF Co
lumbia for private use will have be-
come Kreater, until by the time win
ter sets in there will be an ample
supply for all private consumers
shortage this winter. but at the same
time they do not hold out hope that
winter supplies can be put In bins
before the middle Of November.
There is today in the District OF
Columbia approximately 1000 tons
time there were between $4,000 and
$4,000 tons Of anthracite. The situa-
tion this year Is better, however
dealers point out because this year
there will be plenty OF coal coming
here before winter sets in, while last
year the coal strike of November
shut down on deliveries after No
vember 1.
Coming in Dfiblets.
Coal. particularly anthracite. is com
ing onto sidings in tho District OF
Columbia in driblets, barely enough
to meet actual needs of consumers,
who are getting small-lot deliveries
for current needs. When dealers can
get more coal the rationing system
will be abandoned and consumers will
be able to get all the coal they need.
ington today as outlined by Johnston
r. Zimmerman, secretary Of the Coal
Merchants Association Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and by w. w. Grif-
fth, one OF the largest dealers in
Washington. Today. up to noon. there
were only six cars Of anthracite coal
delivered over the Pennsylvania rail
road. Deliveries over the Baltimore
and Ohio had not been checked up up
to noon.
Today's prices for anthracite coal
quoted by one large dealer were as
follows: White ash stove. SEAS;
sueS~heat. $50 ;ioss es. red s0aa. ash ''sa1s egg;
$15.25: red ash stove. s15.25; broken
egg. SIS. Soft coal sold for s11.25 a
ton.
Another dealer quoted prices. with
delivery at the curb available in
practically all grades. as follows:
Broken egg. $14.45; white ash stove,
!11a.se: chestnut. s14.s5: pea coal,
$14.96; red ash stove. $3.50: Lykens
Valley. $3.50, and soft coal, 3ll.45.
A total Of 1876 cars OF anthracite
coal was delivered to dumps in the
District Of Columbia during the week
October 40. inclusive. according to
figures furnished today by Mr.. Zim-
norman. These cars hold from forty
seven tons Of bituminous coal were
received during the week.
Yesterday there were received In
Washington twenty-nine cars Of an
thfactte. Tuesday twenty-seven cars
and 4onday twenty-four cars. Seven
cars Of bikuminous coal were received
in Washington yesterday, six cars
Tuesday and eighteen cars Monday.
He3e fer Greater Deliveries.
Dsalers hope for steadily mounting
deliveries Of coal from the present
ward to heavy shipments Of coal DIR
Ing the next two months. They be-
lisve by Christmas coal dumps in the
District will be filled. and hope by that
time to be able to sell consumers all
the coal they need for the entire win
ter. Lifting Of the priority orders
now in effect by orders Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. will have
= good effect on coal shipments here,
dealers say. Close Of navigation on
the great lakes will have practically
the same effect, while dealers stocks
y, the northwest are rapidly being aug
mented to the point where some Of the
coal which is being diverted to that
section can be brought to Washington,
whore the present need is not SO great
as In the north west