New Britain herald., 1922-10-26
COMMUNICATED
Coal Dealers Answer to Request
 for Information.


 MT, Questioning Citizen
 l, We can buy coal as cheaply as the dealers in nearby cities, but we can only get about e-twentieth of the city's needs. Cities where only low priced coal has been purchased are nots receiving anywhere near enough for their immediate wants.
 ?. Our present stock of coal is the result of our knowing and under standing the situation, and we believe you will be very thankful that we had the good sense to purchase coal at any price a ton.
 8. It was foresight not the lack of 1t that caused us to get coal at any price, as we believe events will prove
 I. We are sure that any dealer in a nearby city could explain his busi- ness to you better than we can, and feel sure that he would be pleased to do so. But don't forget to ask him how much coal he has received and how much he is delivering.
 5. We have no doubt but that fig ures on single ton would show their margin to be greater than ours, but their gross figures over almost any period are very liable to show a loss
 6. AS patiently explained through the press, the fuel commission, and the dealers. We can buy coal and sell it for profit at $lS5o, but if we all do this you and thousands of other citizens are going to be mighty cold. Up to the present time New Britain would have received but 20 cars instead of 240 if only low priced coal had been bought.
 Now Mir. Questioning Citizen:
 Do you realize that we are today facing the most serious situation that has ever occurred during the history of coalo
 Do you realize that even at best this country will be short millions of tons, and New Britain under the most favorable circumstances will be short around 25,o00 tons?
 Do you realize that the coal-carry- ing railroads are in pitiable state, some of them being almost con- pletely paralyzed?
 Do you realize that in the mines, the railroads and the dealers now have 12 months work to do in four months, and that if you and thou sands of other citizens wait until we have foot Of snow before you order coal. that all the coal equipment in town will not be able to get coal to everyone eff we have it) in a day or two?
 Do you realize that if you had had more foresight this spring when the dealers urged you to put in little coal that you would have done more to prevent the present situation than can now be accomplished in year?
 Have you ever gone to your coal dealer and asked him to sit down and explain the situation to you? Has your Information about the coal situ ation come from reliable sources or from hearsay? If you won't believe your local coal dealers who have of dollars invested in their business and pretty good regulations in the community, why don't you get the correct information from reliable sources? Write to the Bureau of Mines at Washington, ask your local freight agent what he knows about the railroads, go into your bank and ask them about your coal dealers reputation Whatever you do be cer tain to get authentic information be- fore you make statements. And let us suggest that you read the articles about coal by Floyd Parsons that ap- peared in the Saturday Evening Post.
 A LOCAL DEALER.