The Washington times., 1922-08-14
FAMINE IN
COAL: HITS
INDUSTRIES
Non-Essential Burners OF Fuel
May Shut Down to Re-
lieve Situation.

Ncn-essential industries in the
District of Columbia will be
forced to suspend, due to the
coal famine, It was forecast to-
day by the Public Utilities Com
mission.
The commission is now wrest-
ling with knotty problem-what
is q non-essential industry
Failing to reach q definite de-
cision on the question, the COM
mission has appealed to the Fed
eral Fule Administrator for Q
ruling.
Only Small Users.
Those industries which are OBJ
viously non-essential, the commits
sion finds, use only a small amount
of coal. The big consumers which,
II cut off, would greatly relieve the
situation in the District, are es-
sential industries.
1t is tentatively estimated that
25 per cent Of the industries In
Washington are non-esssential. In
their struggle for continuous opera
ton this winter, these industries
will have the Utilities Commission,
the Federal Fuel Administration
and essential industries to reckon
with.
The Commission today was also
| trying to get O ruling on the ques-
ton Of who Is to serve coal to con-
sumers in Chhevy Chase, Nd,
Takoma Park, Nd, and Rosslyn,
Va.
Most Of the householders In these
points live in detached homes. Their
need for coal in urgent. Most of
them have have been dealing with
coal men who have their man offices
in Washington. The question is
will they get their coal through the
Utilities Commission of Washington
! or the Public Service Commission Of
Maryland or Virginia, al the case
may be.
One large coal company dumps its
coal at Rosslyn for later distribution
in Washington. 1t has not yet been
determined whether coal dumped In
Rosslyn can be diverted to the Dis.
trict consumer.
Another local concern dumps its
coal in Bethesda, Md. Should that
coal be used for Maryland .:oosun-
ers or brought into tho District?
No matter what final decision is
reached, a check will be kept to pre-.
vent a consumer In the suburbs from
getting coal both through the Utili'
ties Commission here and from the
fuel administration of the State In
which the suburban consumer lives
Curb Profiteering.
The most important announcement
yet made in so far as the ultimate
consumer is concerned came today
from Col. Charles Keller, chairman
of the Utilities Commission.
"If any consumer feels that he has
been overcharged, he has only to fur
nish this commission with all the
facts in the case and we will promise
a thorough investigation and such
action as the matter warrants" the
chairman declared.
No so-calied fair price will be
fixed by the commission, due to the
fact that the coal men have differ
ent rates and no two Of them dc
business in the same way. The com
mission feels that It would be out ol
the question to attempt to fix one
price for all.
The attention of the commission
was called today to the fact that
many householders are installing OF
arranging to insall gas heaters
against the day when coal will not
be obtainable.
1t is pointed out that to increase
the consumption of gas will near
that the gas company will require
more coal. II will be easier, the com
mission explains. to deliver coal e
the gas company in large lots thar
to distribute the coal in small lott
TO a large number of householder,
who are widely scattered.
Want Is Per Cent Cut. ..
Local dealers are cooperating with
the Utilities Commission in every wa,
possible, II is said, and are already
making their daily reports on tn,
movement OF coal In and out OF theil
yards. giving the names OF consum
ers furnished, the amount distributed
and the prices charged. No com