New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-12-14
DISTRIBUTION OF
ANTHRACITE COAL
Bay State Fuel Administration
Explains System in Use

Il. IL. Johnston of the City Goa
and Wood Co. has sent to the Herald
a letter issued by the New England
Coal Dealers Association, Inc, with
Headquarters at 141 Milk street. Bos-
ton. explaining the system in use
this year for the distribution OF am
thracite coal. The letter is signed
by w. A. Clark president of the
association and is composed, In part,
of n circular letter issued by James
J. Phelan. fuel administrator for
Massachusetts.
The letter follows,
Gentlemen
IA, Below is copy of circular letter
sent out to the Local Emergency
Fuel Distributors by the State Emer-
gency Fuel Administrators of Massa-
chusetts, Mr.. James j. Phelan.
1--WE feel sure that some of you
do not understand how Anthracite is
being distributed this year. and as
this is a very clear explanation OF the
plans being followed by the Anthra-
cite Producing Company, we know it
will be OF value to you therefore read
it carefully.
New Britain had last year 10000
ton coal for domestic use. Can only
get this year 60 per cent owing to
shut down of five months strike. This
leaves $4,000 tons for year from
April 1, 1922 to April /, 1928. A
shortage of $4,000 tons. What fuel
will people accept to make up the
difference?
"'There is some misunderstanding
on the part of many retail dealers
concerning the policy and procedure
In the distribution of anthracite
coal from the mines to dealers.
THE expectation is that the pro-
ducers shall be able to mine and ship
between September II when mining
was resumed, and next March 81, APP
proximately 500 of the tonnage min
ed and shipped last year. Therefore,
dealers cannot reasonably expect to
secure shipments in excess of this
600.
All producers have been instruct
ed by the Pennsylvania Fuel COM
mission to make shipments this year
to- the same cities and towns to which
they made shipments during the last
coal year. Dealers, therefore, should
file their orders with the same
shippers who supplied them last year
Some dealers failed to file orders with
their shippers for 60cs of the ton
mage shipped last year.
In determining the quantities due
to have been shipped since September
II, the method is to take 609o of the
gross tons shipped within the last coal
year as determined by the invoices
dated between April /, 1921 and
March 81, 1922, and not the tonnage
received at destination between these
dates. Divide this 500 by 30, the
number of weeks to lapse between
September II and next March 81,
which gives the weekly rate at which
shipments are to be made. Multiply
this weekly rate by the number Of en-
tire weeks which have elapsed since
September II, which will give the to-
tai shipments due to date. q
TWO important rules of the com
mittee on distribution of the Penn |
sylvania fuel commission are as fol-
lows:-
First; Any shipper may elect to
sell the tonnage he is obligated to
snip this year to a given community
to another dealer within the same
community, than the one to whom he
made shipment last year.
!" Second: The committee on dis
tribution will devote its attention to
shipments to community as whole, |
and will not deal with shipments to |
any particular dealer.
All shipments both Company" |
ana independent priced coal, are |
charged up to the anthracite quota I
due a community Dealers should re-
member that while purchases Of I'm /
dependent" coal may temporarily in
crease their supplies, it does not in I
crease the quota to a community. For
illustrations Shipments to dealers by /
their regular suppliers may be below |