Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-10-04
To Our Patrons

In order that our patrons may be familiar
with the serious coal situation that confronts
all Gas Companies supplying gas, we wish to
submit the following facts:
Strikes at mines, car shortages, and other
things Incidental have caused coal prices to
become almost prohibitive and the supply
OF gas coal seriously reduced In order that
Gas Companies might stand first in securing
APART of the limited supply of gas coal, the
Interstate Commerce Commission has been
issuing priority orders for the assignment of
public utility cars to the mines by the Rail
roads on application from the Gas Compan-
les and In the face of the Commission or
ders Gas Companies cannot secure coal I'M
less such order states that the coal is for cur
rent use of a public utility only, and not for
storage or resale, furthermore, the order
must be approved by the local Railroad
Company, before cars will be placed at the
mines Tor loading, and that you may under
stand the difficulties in obtaining coal even
under the priority orders, we wish to cite
the following transaction.
On September 18th, we placed orders with
the Harlan Coal Company for four cars Gas
coal to replace the cars of dirt that nearly
caused suspension Of gas production re-
Gently Our order to the Harlan Company
was properly approved by the Central of
Georgia Railroad and the mines acknow-
lodged this order advising shipment would
be made on receipt of cars. We supplement-
ed our order with twenty-one kilograms and
numerous letters endeavoring to expedite
the shipment, and were lead to believe that
our coal was forthcoming until October first,
when we received the following letter:
THE LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD co.
Office of Superintendent of Transportation
Louisville, KY. September 30, 1920
Americas Lighting Co, Americus Ca
Gentlemen: This is to advise you that the condition
OF supply has been and is such that do
longer avail ourselves of the authority granted by Ser
Order No. 10, and that will be our purpose to
honor the applications for preferential supply
for the loading of public utility COAL and that all outstand
ing applications have been cancelled. Your truly,
W. ]. HAYLOW.
P S.-APPLICATION HEREWITH RETURNED.
On receipt of the above letter we Immediate
ly took up with the Railroad Commission of
Georgia asking their assistance in securing
coal, but were advised by telephone and con-
hrmedby letter that they were powerless to
assist us. And at this writing have personal
representative before the Interstate Com
merce commission in Washington D. c., en-
deavoring to help us get gas coal.
In order to protect ourselves and patrons we
did not depend upon the order to the Harlan
Company alone, but also have outstanding
two four-car orders, but have no means of
knowing 1t these orders will he treated 40
above.
In view of the foregoing, it appears that we
are at the mercy of the coal operators and
railroads, and that a serious situation con-
fronts us therefore, we would request that
our patrons use every possible means to
economic IN the use of gas and we will ap-
preciate it if those having wood stoves would
use them as much as possible, thus conserv-
ing the gas supply for those of our patrons
-