Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-02
Don't Be Misled
Burn Soft Coal
Mr.. Boyd's Warning

JdIHeS Cs DOyu, Iuel ADMINISTRATOR
issues the following statement:
No attention should be paid to ru-
mors Of an early settlement of the
anthracite strike. If the consumers
of anthracite desire to win this
strike which Is directed against
them, they should Immediately put
in sufficient stocks of fuel, which
together with that already in their
bins. will carry them through the
winter. 1t would be some months
after the strike is settled before
much anthracite could psssible reach
Maine consumers.
The transportation agencies and
retail dealers possess ample facili-
ties to distribute to the citizens OF
Maine sufficient fuel at reasonable
prices. However neither the mines
nor the distribution system can fur
nish an adequate supply of fuel II
the demands of q large number OF
householders are put Off until severe
winter weather sets in. Therefore
the Importance of consumers put
ting in their full winter supply of
fuel early cannot be over-empha.
sized.
Many householders are burning
low volatile bituminous coal and
during the present mild weather
many more householders are finding
out how to use 1t successfully. The
prices of prepared sizes of low VIOLA
tile bituminous coal, the supply OF
which is limited similar to coke
have risen rapidly since the stoppag e
OF anthracite production. 1t is NOT
necessary and many householders
ind 1t is not desirable to use the
prepared sizes. This office is urging
householders to use for heating pur.
poses a lump run-of- mine low VIOLA
tlle pltuminous coal, which can be
mined In sufficient quantities to meet
all requirements and purchased at a
much lower price than the prepared
sizes. Plenty of this kind of coal
ian De Dought at the mines today
for less than So a ton.
After careful study and consider,-
ton. the New England governors
fuel committee recommended The
use of low volatile bituminous coal
containing not more than % percent
voiatlle matters and not less thai,
l4.ooo h. I. u. per pound, because
TINS coal can be burned satisfactorily
IN our present heating apparatus
without excessive smoke or oas
Many retail dealers and consumers
are being offered splint and other
Goals OF much higher volatile CON
tent than that advised by the cover
nors' committee. Some of these
Goals can be burned successfully In
some of our existing apparatus
Ihose offering coal with a higher
volatile content than that advised bv
me governors committee should be
required by the consumer to demon
s.rate the practicability of it's use in
re re particular equipment in which
the coal is to be burned.
Bag coal is sold almost entirely =,
the poorer people. who must he NJ ~ !,
tected as they are the least ah,e ~
protect themselves. Many of +bo
larger retail dealers do not normaIIv
give much attention to the bag coal
traoe. In view of the fact that az
lHe present time the needs of the
porer people are the principal source
VI cohcrn. 1t Is suggested that a large
part or the remaining supply Of an.
thraclte IN dealers hands be con-
served and distributed to the poorer
peonle unreasonable prices.
This should give the retail deal
ers an opportunity to make good the
words OF their president. s. B. Gro
Wen: president of the National Re-
tan Coal Merchants Association. who
recently stated:
we look upon this emergency as
an opportunity to demonstrate orr
ABILITY to render an important serv-
ice to the coal consuming public and
we pledge our best efforts to secure
an ADEQUATE supply and an eo1,it-
aoie distribution of fuel at prices
that Will be fair not ONLY to ourselves
out the communities we serve"