New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-01-23
Coal Dealers Explain Handicaps
Truckers Reported Profiteering

setting a certain kindN buekHhea
here, AIR, Anbe called mis- attentlol
to the fact that he had Just made |
statement a few minutes before tina
he sold a large quantity Of What h.
called mo buekwheaL" which I
rice coal size, or one Size smalle
than buekvhest. at the wharf in New
York, which remark provoked a com
ment from Mr.. North. III YOU usee
as much energy in getting buekwheai
as YOU do other sizes, you would haNs
some" Mr., Able commented on thu
fact that people prefer 10 huy buck
wheat after they become accustomed
10 il, that il is simply an idea that
they don't like il, Mr., North asked
Mr.. Weld IL he was receiving an,
kicks on buekwheat and Mr., Weld re-
piled that complaints were few and
usually from small purchasers,
Not q Case OF Choice.
Replying 20 Mr., Berson's statement
that the people won't take buekwheat.
Mr.. North said. 1T isn't the question
OF what the people want, it's what
! they can get"
I Mr.. Brown said he had complaints
| OF hard coal being delivered TO new
houses In Belvidere and Stanley Quar-
ter. II was reported that this was
done to dry the fresh plaster. II was
agreed that henceforth only coke will
he sold for this purpose. Maurice II.
Johnson OF the Citizens Coal and
Wood Co. reported that he.had plenty
OF coke on hand and on the way.
Complaints were made that domes-
tic size coal was being delivered 10
business blocks on Main street. Mr..
Christ reported that James +. Sulli-
van has been a consistent violator OF
this ruling.
Deliveries Out of Town.
Mr.. Brown asked II anyone was de-
livering coal out OF town and Mr..
Weld and Mr.. johnson reported that
they were taking orders from regu-
lar customers only in Wcstwood park
ard Maple Hill. Asked II Maple Hill
was considered part of New Britain
or Hartford, Mr.. johnson replied.
IT'S a part OF Hartford In the sum-
mcr time and New Britain in the
winter" No coal is being delivered
by local dealers other than TO New
Britain and suburbs. 1t was learned-
Mr.. Johnston said he is refusing from |
five to eight orders each day in Plain.
Vile.
Mr.. Johnston brought up the ques-
ton of New Britain's allotment. He
pointed out that New Britain's con-
was based on the amount
consumed in 1921 when there were
fewer people than in 1922. He said
that If the city was allowed only so
per cent of what 1t consumed in 1921,
1t would be a great deal less than that
percentage of what was consomed in
1922.
The Emergency Bill.
Mr. Weld said he wanted the pub
ic to play the game square. He said
MS drivers put coal into house and
,ome back and report that they find
LII kinds of coal there. ,
Mr.. Christ was asked about the
fuel bill now before the .
legislature. He said he was more or !,
ess familiar with the terms of the ,
)ill and said 1t would be most I'M {
ortunate for coal dealers to oppose It, !,
ME Weld said the dealers were not {
opposed to it, but would like chance
o appear at hearing and discuss {
ertain phases of it. This Mr.. Christ {
aid they probably would have an OPP
ortunity to do.
Mr.. Berson was very much afraid
hat if the bill goes through State
'uel Commissioner Thomas w. Rus
ell would be enabled to confiscate q
hole shipments from New Britain. !,
was pointed out to him that coal =
'ould be confiscated only in cases OF g
xtreme emergency and might not :
mount to more than few cars dur :,
lg the winter. Mr.. Berson said he :
'ould be in favor of closing up his J.
usiness If the bill went through.
If. johnson replied, you can't 60 y
efore hearing on the bill and rep
ssent the New Britain dealers on
rat basis" Mr.. Johnston's attitude
as endorsed by other dealers. !.
Asks Newspapers to Help. h
Mr.. Brown made an appeal to h
ewspapermen to emphasize to the L
est Of their ability the Importance of d
eople buying substitutes SO as to ir
reich the visible supply. Al
SOHipidlHIo were Hldu6 tr1dJ LTuCk- tr
ZEN who are hired to help handle fc
'al deliveries indulge in profiteering,
larging exhorb tant prices when
icy know they must be used at any
ice. 1t was reported that in many
ses trucks must stand around for til
ours waiting for a load, on account til
small purchasers at the yards, or be
ngestion caused by delay in deliv- cl
ieskdue to snow barriers at homes st
i'd That this probably caused the tn
ice to go higher. Mr.. Brown asked in
r names Of all trucnmen charging pr
reasonable prices. m
Too Many Phone Calls. sa
There was considerable discussion ISIS
the congestion at the yards. The
items Coal and Wood Co. and the
ty Coal and Wood Co. reported men
,rking sometimes from Z a. m. I'M
6 p. m. without stopping even for
nch and both firms reported having
red extra help to answer telephone
lis and even then found it impos- fol
lie to answer all calls. One dealer ha
ID he stopped answering calls after Gel
,ertain time in the afternoon. The a