Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-23

Continued from First PageD
Coal Merchants Board of Trade. who
took an active part in handling the
fuel problem last winter.
Maj Bell had no statement to make
following the meeting. other than to
say that they had talked over the
situation in a general wa. Mr..
Lewis also declined to disclose the
nature Of the plans discussed
May Set Fair Price.
It IS understood. however, that the
advisability of regulating deliveries
of hard coal to consumers and the
establishment of a fair price list, as
was done by the utilities commission
last year, was discussed.
An OFFICIAL of the Coal Merchants
BOARD of Trade said today the organi-
zation had not acted on the Que stion
Of having the commissioners regulate
deliveries this winter and would not
do so until the proposition is definitely
advanced.
Commissioner Oyster and Bell to-
day received the formal invitation OF
Federal Fuel Distributor Wadleigh to
send representatives OF the Dislrict
government TO the conference to be
held in New York Tuesday Of officials
The commissioners will gladly ae-
cept the invitation, but were not pre-
pared to announce today who would
be designated to go.
City Better on.
Leading coal dealers declared today
that Washington is far better prepared
TO cope with a hard coal strike this
winter than the city was year ago.
They expressed the opinion that WASH
ington already has received hve-
lf,h nft Int orr
a year ago, one large dealer OBJ
served, virtually no hard coal was
mined during the summer. This year
hard coal has been coming in for five
culated from April /.
The extent to which Washington
might run short on hard coal this win
ter. this dealer said. would depend on
the time the hard coal miners were
closed by a strike.
"Of course" this dealer pointed out,
some consumers have laid in prac-
ticaly the entire winters supply,
while others have not been able TO order
more than one or two tons"
Although figures were not avail!
able today, it was learned that some
local dealers already have stocks of
coke and other anthracite substitutes
IN storage.
be undecided now as to the necessity
ct advisability of taking up regula
ton of fuel along the lines pursued
last winter.
The first problem facing the Com
missioners is to get the money nee
essary to maintain a fuel control Of
flce. Last winter 1t cost approx
lnately $4,000. which was obtained
by placing tax of cents on each
ton of coal received. While this tax
was paid to the commission by the
dealers. it was added TO the con-
sumers' price.
To Meet L. 9. Omcials.
Engineer Commissioner Bell. while
not discussing the question today,
made il known several days ago that
he would confer with federal officials
before taking any action toward ham
ding the fuel problem locally.
Coal stored il the bins of all fed
eral and District institutions here.
which, witt -ta exception OF the navy
yard, are su:'ni.yi by the government
fuel yard, is sufficient to last until
about Christmas, it was estimated
today by George S. Pope, chief en-
gineer of the fuel yards.
1t is the general practice of the
yards, Mr.. Pope said, TO distribute
coal to the consumers throughout the
summer thereby achieving a two-fold
advantage: First it reduces the win
ter peak load of the yards. and Sec
considerable time in the event of a
strike in the mines or railroad tie-up.
To Stop Deliveries.
Should the anthracite miners strike
September all deliveries of the
hard coal will be stopped" Immediate
Nv and no institution will be supplied
that has this class of coal in its bins.
Annually the buildings and institu-
lions here consume 100000 tons OF
h:tuminous and 10000 tons of an
tiracite coal. making 10000 tons IN
all. The anthracite will be sad
and allotted only where there is alt
soIute immediate need, Mr.. Pope SAID
Then If the anthracite is unobtain-
able. the fuel yards Will turn to
luminous coal and coke. as substi-
+utes as IL did last year for while,
Mr.. Pope added. At present normal
mines in Pennsylvania. he said