Evening star., 1922-11-15
URGES ESDES|GNAT|0N
Of KINDS Of COAL
Dove Says Public Is MisIed
Into Belief District Has
Enough Anthracite.

The earnest suggestion that, during
the present fuel emergency. the word
"coar be never used singly in pub
lie documents, newspapers or even
in conversation, but should always be
preceded by the words Anthracite
or "bituminous." as the case may be.
is made by ]. Maury Dove. jr., vice
president of the ]. Maury Dove Com
pany.
In an article appearing in The Star
of November 49," stated Mr.. Dove. the
top line Of the headline read Coal
Shortage Now Unlikely and. although
in the subhead the phrase Anthracite
still tight occurred. some part OF the
public, at least, has undoubtedly con-
strued the article in question as an
authoritative statement that they might
expect no shortage of household coal.
This is, of course, contrary to the
facts"
Applies Only to Bftumfnous.
The article in question was based
on announcements from the federai
fuel distributor and the geological
survey. Although these authorities
stated that there is little posslpiilly
of any section of the country lacking
coal for either industrial or house
welcome as it is, applies only 10
bituminous coal. for later in the an,
nouncement the fact is developed
that there still remains the probapll-
ity that substitutes for anthraclte
will have to be made during a part
Of the winter, at least.
"The truth about the local coal
situation is that a shortage OF an
thracite now exists" said Mr.. Dove
"and only the warm weather prevail
ing 80 far has prevented, in my opln-
ion. a serious conoitlon IN Washing
ton households.
"Due to 40 per cent of mining time
having been absolutely eliminated in
the anthracite regions by the recent
strike" continued XIr Dove. in
brief resume of conditions. only oo
per cent of that variety can. unoer
the most favorable conditions oe
mined.
Short on Hard Coal.
.'The result is that cannot see, GER
tainly at this time, how the District
of Columbia can, under any clfcum-
stances, possibly expect to receive
during the present coalburning sea-
SON more than 60 per cent of the to-
tai tonnage of anthracite which II
received during the twelve months OF
last year AS a matter OF fact, the
anthracite coal which the deaiers
have received during the perlod since
the resumption of mining up to the
1st of November last mas been ap-
proximately 325 cars short of what
they would have received had they
received their pro-rata share during
that period of the 60 per cent aliot-
ment So far during November tnere
has been little or no anthracite COM
ing into Washington. but there is
slight ray of hope appearing in that
l,,t
of navigation on the great lakes,
which is expected to take place about
November IS, the District of Colum-
bia will be preferred as to shipments
and considerable anthracite coal
should come here at that time.
Serious situation Here.
$50 serious has the situation been,
indeed. that the Public Utilities Com
mission has deemed it wise to re-
strict the use of anthracite coal in
households and has compelled ho-
tells. apartment houses and business
establishments to use SOFT coal ex-
clusively, unless some good cause be
shown in particular instances Where
this fuel cannot be used.
Does this not make it apparent
that the greatest care should be used
in always qualifying coal as to an
thracite' or 'bituminous' instead of
using the mere word coal?
ITO take an example: some nfteen
persons called at our office during the
flrst hour Of business the morning
following the issuance Of the state
ment previously referred to, COM
planning of the restrictions coal deal
ers had imposed upon them. Some
were even blunt enough to accuse us
then of preaching a fictitious shortage
in coal for purely mercenary rea-
sons"