The New York herald., 1922-09-07
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 2, 1922.
The Fuel Boss's Big Job.

The appointment by Governor
MILLER of Fuel Administrator has
started the machinery for getting
and distributing coal and other heat
ing materials in this State. WILLIAM
II. WooDIN of this city. who has ac-
cepted this important and possibly
thankless job, has double qualifica-
tions for the place of Administrator.
He knows coal and he knows busi-
ness. The second of these qualifica-
tions is the more necessary. Admin
istering the fuel supply of ten million
people is a great business task. 1t
calls for knowledge of regional and
industrial necessities, Of sources of
supply, of fuel prices and quality.
For the immediate present Mr..
WeopIN will be occupied with seeing
to it that the industries OF the State
receive their fair share of soft coal.
The bituminous mines are loading
$4,000 cars a day. Work has not
been resumed in the anthracite field,
whose product is OF greatest interest
to the average citizen. Even If all
the hard coal miners return to their
jobs from the various occupations at
which many Of them have been since
April the output will not be normal
f6r some time. The miners are out
of training and the mines are not
yet in perfect condition for the high
est production.
Governor MILLER and Administra-
tor .WooDIN both emphasize what THE
NEw YORK HERALD has been saying
for weeks-that there is sure to be
a shortage Of anthracite. To meet
this situation the householder should
husband whatever coal he may have,
and when the cool weather of late
October arrives he ought to try to
stave off the lighting of the heating
plant for a couple of weeks at least.
BY using wood, oil or gas the first
frosty weather can be met with a
fair degree of comfort.
Americans heat their houses, par
ticularly in the autumn, more than
fealth demands. Once the furnace
( is started they are loath to let it out.
But they must remember that the i'm
portant thing in the coming winter
{ will be the conservation of fuet to
meet the bitter spell which always
comes some time between Christmas
and Washington's Birthday. The ceal
which in normal times might be used
tos''take the chill off the house" in
October and November will be a rare
and vital necessity when January
sends the mercury below zero.
The fact that the State. is regulat-
ing the fuel supply does not mean
that the householder must apply to
the State for what he needs. Each
consumer should file his order with
his regular dealer. The Fuel Admin
! istration will apportion fuel to the
retail dealers, who will pass il on to
their customers As the dealers know
the normal needs of the homes OF
their customers there should be no
favoritism. The customer need not
shop around. lie can expect fair
treatment from his regular coal
dealer and know that II he Is not
fairly treated the State viii take
action.
The consumer whose bin is empty
VIII have to accept what is first
served or take chance on being
cold. He may count himself lucky IL
a ton or two Of coke falls to his lot,
for that fuel is almost as easily han
died as anthracite. If coke cannot
be had then soft coal must be well
coined. II requires more tending of
the fire, but il gets there with the
thermal units trst the same.