Evening star., 1942-10-04
Less Than | Per Cent
Of D. T.. Home Owners
Converted 10 Coal
Governments ConfIictino
Statements Made Public
Apothetic, Oil Dealers Soy
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Only a small fraction of / per
cent of the oil burners in Wash
ington homes which can be con-
verted to coal have been con-
verted, despite the thousands of
words responsible Government
officials expended in trying to
bring home the acuteness of the
oil supply situation, a survey of
oil dealers indicated yesterday,
The dealers were fairly we'll agreed
as to the reason for public inaction
in face of the dire warnings that
homes will be like ice boxes" this
winter unless all the oil burners
possible are converted. One mans
statement pretty we'll sums up the
views of all dealers. He said:
I'm general, people feel they are
going to get sufficient oil in spite of
Government warnings. They are
willing to take a chance anyway.
There have been SO many conflicting
statements in, the past from the
Government over the necessity for
rationing of other products that
the people seem to have lost con-
fidence in the utterances of officials.
Even in this oil-rationing program
there have been too many confusing
statements"
One dealer who has more than
5000 customers among home owners
stated that less than 80 have con-
verted to coal" He said this figure
was conservative, and actually the
firm knew of only 10 conversions.
Another dealer with 1000 to 5000
customers placed the number of
conversions on his list at from Is
to TO-"
Half Could Be Converted.
Both dealers estimated slightly
more than half OF the oil burners
could be converted.
Still another dealer who served
1000 oil burners said perhaps
dozen" have converted. The same
story and practically the same per-
centage of conversions may be
found on all sides.
Figures compiled by the Once OF
Petroleum Co-ordinator indicate
that about 10000 householders
throughout the East have converted
to coal. This is about per cent OF
the homes which can be most easily
converted and about III per cent of
the domestic users Of oil in the East.
An OPC spokesman expressed belief
that Washington has been slower
to convert than any other city.
The only penalty the Office of
Price Administration has announced
will befall those who can and fail
to convert, is that they will be denied
supplemental oil, rations to be used
during cold snaps, in case Of illness
or If there is an infant or invalid
in the house.
It is not as easy to convert as
Government officials have led the
public to believe, apparently. Some
home owners have reported difficulty
obtaining supplies and workmen to
do the job.
Problems of Home Owner.
The problems OF one man were
described by dealer VINO was asked
by the customer for help. The man
had cellar full of coal, a tank full
of oil, an oil burner and CRATES for
burning coal in the burner. Despite
this, he was "out of luck" as the
dealer described it. His automatic
hot-water heater was hooked up to
the automatic oil burner. Il coal
was used. the heater wouldn't work
in automatic fashion.
The dealer told the customer there
were two things he might do. Either
sell the coal and CRATES and use oil
as formerly, or tear out the whole
heating device and start all over
again.
Problems probably will arise from
OPA use Of degree days" In calcu-
lating the amount of oil to be doied
out to Washington homes, 4 dealer
pointed out.
A degree day" in the trades
terminology Is the number Of degrees
above prevailing outside temperature
which must be created inside house
to bring the heat there to . pre-
determined level. In this case, the
temperature desired Is IS degrees.
II the outside temperature Is IS
degrees. then the day Is q 80 de-
gree day."
Degree Days Don't work.
Weather Bureau statistics were
used In calculating the number Of
degree days. for the average Win
ter. These figures will bs uSed BY
rattoning boards In setting individual
oil supplies for the year. In the case
Of Washington. oddchl temperatures
have been taken tor most Of the
last 10 years ct ths Weather Bureau