Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-08-07
Soft Coal and Wood
Continued from Page One)

Continued from Rage Cne}
quircments. The state Capitol it
self is heated with hard coal but
soft coal.
All persons in charge of hospitals
and charitable institutions and all
county, municipal and other officials
in charge of public buildings jaila,
almshouses, schools and other public
institutions should Immediately file
with the State Fuel Administration,
a list of their coal requirements so
that an accurate account may be
kept of Just what is needed. Gov
ernmental institutions are TO be
given certain priority but the Fuel
Administration must know of their
needs Immediately and it will not do
for public officials to wait until the
last moment, and then expect prior
ity orders to bc filled promptly.
Prices and Profiteering
Governor Baxter is going TO as
sumo at the outset that there will
be no proiitcerinG done in Maine. AS
the shortage becomes more and
more apparent there will be a desire
on the part of some to gradually
advance the price of both wood and
coal In each instance the State
Administration is going to inquire
as to the reason for the advance.
The Governor believes that the fuel
dealers of the State as a rule VIII
not take advantage of the necessities
Of their fellow citizens. The moment
there are any signs of profiteering
the whole fnCl structure will be in
danger. proftcerihg is contagious
If one person in the chain of the
fuel supply starts out to take ad-
vantage it sets a bad example to all
the others. The people of Maine are
willing to pay fair price for every
thing they receive, and want to pay
the dealers n reasonable profit on
their coal, but they are not willing
to do more than this, ana expect
the Fuel Administration to protect
their interests. In connection with
wood, if prices begin to soar, the
men who chop the wood expect to
receive extra pay, the men who haul
it do the same. and so on down
through until the ultimate consumer
has to bear an unduly heavy load.
Everybody must exercise self con-
troll. There will be ample oppor-
tunity for everybody to get employ
ment in scutting firewood, and this
will do much toward relieving the
unemployment situation that exists
to some extent in certain sections of
the State.
The railroads OF the State have
already offered to reduce the freight
rates on wood if they can be assured
that dealers WI not take advantage
and deprive the consumer of the re-
duction in freight rates.
The industries of the State are in
a critical condition because they
come under the last classification on
priority orders. 1t is vital that the
industries he kept going so the peo-
pie of Maine can obtain employment
and earn wages on which to live
during the winter. It would be n
serious calamity if single industry
in the State is obliged to shut down
for lack of fuel. and the State will
indeed be fortunate if it can get
through the winter without this be-
ing done.
At the conference of coal dealers
on Tuesday there was a fine spirit
manifested and they all agreed to
support the Governor and the State
Fuel Administration. If this spirit
continues it will go q long way to-
ward tiding the State over the crisis.
and every coal dealer in the State
VIII need to make some sacrifice for
the benefit OF the community.
Friori.es
The rules established by Secretary