The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-23

&
AR. r. P. Staclzhouse. OF Ameri-
Gus, Ga.,. is in the city.
Miss Hal Walker, Of Charleston.
lis visiting her brother, Rev. J. 3.
Walger, on East Calhoun street.
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| Coal Shortag
Nearing Crisis
Use of Power in State May
Have to Be CHrtailed
Columbia. Aug ao.-conditions
as regard the coal supply are so
acute i'm South Carolina and in the
entire country that the useless or
unnecessary use of hydro electric
EIpower for heavy electric signs,
Mhite ways. street lighting and pos
sibly moving picture shows viii
have to be stopped, Frank W.
|Shealy, chairman of the railroad
commission; said yesterday upon his
IA - Y.
Ireturn from Washington.
Mr. Shealy was deeply impress
ed with the acu1eness Of the situa-
ton and he was most emphatic in
his statement that unless the strict
est economy was practiced suffer
ing might result. Mr.. Shealy has
been in Washington for over a week
and there ne saw daily the great
emergency.
Hundreds Of officials are crowd
ing into the capital in an effort to
get coal South Carolina is pos
sibiy as well Off as any of the
states, Mr.. Shealy found. The sit
nauon is bad all over the country
THE supply of coal, SO far as the
nation is concerned. is less than
has eyer been known" Mr. Shealy
declared. While in Washington he
made temporary arrangements With
sfle federal fuel administrator.
that If maintained. will prevent ac-
.1naI suffering ip South Caroline.
Without the observance of this
agreement there is bound to be
suffering Mr.. Shea1y said. Even
under thissarrangement some Of the.
lower class industries VIII likely be
forced to shut down, Chairman
sshealy pointed out.
The following statement was
made by Chairman Sheaiy upon his
return: .s
aConditions will be much bene-
fited with the thorough cooperation
sof the public, which even under
present arrangements is absolutely
necessary TO prevent Inconvenience
and actual suffering during the
winter months to many of the citi-
.zens Of this state. It is my opinion
at this time that all useless. Or un-
necessary use OF hydro-electric' pow
.er now used in heavy electric signs.
white ways, unnecessary street
lighting, possibly moving picture
shows and things Of that kind, viii
necessarily have TO be dispensed
wit !. ~. -
Along this line the public can
give muct, cooperation TO the gov
ernor and the railroad commission
in relieving the conditions above
stated. Some of the lower classed
indnstries no doubt will have to
close down as has already been
done in many Instances in the
greater portion of the United States.
The diversion Of the hydro-electric
power used at this time for what
would be termed as non-essentiais
viii greatly aid. How long this state
of affairs will exist no one seems
to be able to prophecy.
.sThe cotton oil mills, as food
producing utilities have the prom,
ise, under present conditions. of
,one,.third OF their normal supply.
AS TO gas plants. ice plants and
similar utilities it's hoped 10 main
tain continued operation, allowing
where possible hydro electric pow
er to be substituted in place, OF
steam. It may become necessary
that portion of these utilities will
have to be put on short time where
it is possible to do so.
what should be done and what
is expected of the public is not to
be stampeded but 10 cooperate with
the governor and the commission
and every effort should be used to
obtain other fuel for domestic and
other purposes where wood can be
used
Rules and regulations governing
the. distribution Of what coal be-
comes available will be given to the
public at the earliest possible time.
Mr.. Shealy has undertaken to place
the facts as they actually exist SO
that the public may know the Sc
rious state OF affairs that It is facing
now. Mr.. Shealy was able to get
certain rules adopted by the federal
committee that We're in use by..his
own committee prior to the issu-
anee of regulations by the federal
distributor that will have a ten.
dency to do. away with q great
amount of red tape, but accurate
figures must be furnished TO the
state distributor or results will not
be what they would otherwise.
GOMPERS