Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-01-18
COAL RECEIPTS
AGAIN FALL OFF
Distributor Again Tells Pub
lie They Must Burn
Substitutes
SEES NO RELIEF
FOR THE PRESENT

Although receipts OF anthracite
were slightly heavier today and the
dealers stocks on hand were hold
ing about even. consumers were
once more warned by officials of
the State Coal Commission that
they must continue TO accept sub
stitutes and must use care in con-
serving fuel II the supply is to meet
the winters demands.
Robert d. Kemp, City Fuel Dis
rributor. said that of late the OBJ
5ections against the use Of substi-
rutes have multiplied noticeably. As
an extreme example he cited the
case Of a householder who appeal
cd for fuel to dealer last Satur-
day afternoon after the Dealers
Office had closed. saying there was
. sickness IN his home. When. how
ever, the dealer managed to make
81 delivery Of anthracite plus the
usual twenty-five per cent OF some
Substitute to the mans home, the
3stter refused 10 accept II.
From Investigations made by the
State Fuel Commission, not from
one source, but many II has been
learned that consumers will be
obliged TO depend upon at least 20
per cent substitutes for a least
another month" said Mr.. Kemp. III
the weather man will stand by usl
With warm temperatures and no Sc
we're storms. the situation may be
eased somewhat in about four
weeks
E Wilmington is not getting It's full /
shipments OF the so per cent. OF /
normal anthracite allotted TO It by
the Federal and the Pennsylvania
Fuel Commissions. Such being the
case, the city must depend upon sub
stitutes 10 fiji out the anthracite sup
ply"
Mr. Kemp added that he was
happy to say the greater proportion
OF consumers were cooperating with
the commission and local dealers In
making the best of an undeniably
bad situation; but there were unfor-
tunately still some who apparently
preferred cold homes to accepting
what fuel could be supplied them.
Keen eye is being kept on the /
outcome OF the action taken by the
Public Service Commission of Penn
eylvania to close siding leading (
into the yard OF NJ. j. Carroll, a &
dealer in Philadelphia. on the ground \
that he had sold coal at extortionate q
prices Carroll, whose yard is at
Twentieth street and Washington $
avenue. Is fighting TO retain the rail- '
road siding into his yard. IL the I
case goes against him II would put c
him out OF business. The intention 4
i to have the siding declared a men
ace TO public welfare, as warning
70 other coal dealers.
Hearing in the case began yester- {
day. Not only did II develop the s
fact that Carroll sold coal at $22 ;
ron. but he testified he had bought .
some OF his coal from brokers. thus ,
showing that coal is being gambled =
in. and being reconsigned from one !
man 20 another, and held Tor the q
highest price # will bring N
The Pennsylvania Railroad. which
was cited TO appear al the hearing g
TO show cause why II should not re- T
move the siding Into CAROLS yard >
made IL plain It was not present TO !.
protect any dealer who might be !,
souging the public. but merely to- 7
make certain Il was not ordered 10 \
perform something II could not !,
legally do. G
Carroll, in his defense. produced u
bills showing he had paid as high as A
t14 q. ton for some Of his coal. which A
ne bought from the broker. He de- u
cared the people who bought his t22 r
coal understood it was premium" Z
coal. that they bought II with their 2
eyes open, for Immediate delivery, =
and that no one was asked to pur- :
chase Il. :
James F. Carroll. a brother, who !,
manages the yard, was arrested re- 6
Gently. and held under ssoe bail by :
Magistrate Scott for selling GOAL and =
dirt at s22 a ton. :
NJ. ]. Carroll insisted he had lost
money in the coal business, but
seemed vague when quizzed concern g
ing his gross profit. His only idea :
Of profit. apparently. was the differ ;
ence between the price paid for coal,
as shown by his receipted bills. and L
the balance he had left in bank. n
Even at s22 a ton. he Insisted, he I,
could not see where his bank bal o
ance was benefiting any. He de- ii
MED emphatically he had ever sold "
higher than SIS a ton the coal he il
had purchased at $500 10 1926 il
ton. III