The Washington herald., 1922-08-09
5000 TONS COAL
NEEDED WEEKLY
IS D. E. ESTIMATE
Commission Compile t te S
Fuel Administration
In District.
DEALERS ACQUIESCE
Stress Is Laid on Fact That
City Government Is in
Control.

with estimated coal needs of the
District tentatively set at $4,000
tons a week. the District Commits
sioners. through the Public Utili-
ties Commission. announced yester-
day that 1t is ready to order and
receive coal shipments and will
make every effort to keep the city
supplied.
In ordering coal and receiving
shipments allotted to Washington
by the national fuel administration.
the commission will act as the chan
mel through which local dealers
will receive their supply.
The District government is the
first to complete the organization
of its fuel administration. having
outdistanced the forty-eight States.
After two weeks of preliminary
sparring the Commissioners are In
full control of the local situation
and the coal dealers have agreed
to every regulation laid down.
Estimate $4,000 Tons.
The estimate of $4,000 tons as
the weekly need of the city was
supplied by the coal dealers from
figures available. The Commission
ers have forwarded this estimate to
Henry Il. Spencer. national fuel ad-
ministrator. 1t is understood that
this figure is the maximum amount
needed.
OF the $4,000 tons, $1,000 are es-
timated anthracite requirements.
and $4,000 tons are bituminous.
The actual supply on hand of both
kinds of coal in the hands of the
dealers for free distribution is said
to be less than 10000 tons. Small
shipments are still arriving from
earlier orders. but an increased sup
ply is expected when the new or
ders begin to be filled.
Blanks are now in the course OF
preparation for distribution to coal
consumers. These are to be filled
in and forwarded to regular deal
ers. Dealers were supplied with
Public Utilities Commission order
blanks yesterday.
May Get 10 Days supply.
Such coal as is now on hand and
arriving under old orders not de.
livered through the Commission
may be issued in amounts sufiicient
for 3o-days' supply. according to
a decision reached at the third con-
ference between the Commission II
and the dealers. This amount may
he changed in the regulations to
be promulgated for the new sup
plies.
Consumers are Instructed to 60
to their regular dealers where they
will find order blanks. Warning
Is issued against consumers at
tempting to stock up with more
than their proper allowance. Such
attempts will be disclosed when
figures reach the Commission
Check will be kept by house rather
than by individuals.
1t was reliably stated that efforts
to raise rates on public utilities
because of the price of coal will
not be given much consideration.
These prices are held to be emer-
gency conditions.
Commission In Control.
With the Commission daily evil
dencing its intention and purpose
to dominate the local coal situation
In every detail. 1t is growing more
clear that the coal dealers will
have no opportunity to turn the
shortage to their financial advan-
tage. So far the dealers have been
willing to do whatever the Com
mission has desired.
The manner In which the Dis
trict government has taken charge
OF the local situation and started
smooth-running and well-oiled
coal distributing machine has ellie
ited favorable comment from the
national fuel administration.
With Cuno H. Rudolph. chairman
Of the Board of Commissioners. alb
sent from the city, handling of the
situation has been In the hands
OF Commissioners James F. Oyster
and CharIea RayIar