Evening star., 1942-09-16
DC. Homes Will Have
Sufficient Fuel This
Winter, Experts Say
But You'll Have to Make
Heat Go Further, Forum
Of Dealers Reveals
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Washington homes face approx
mately this heating prospect in the
impending winter. If you can take
it from persons in the fuel industry
who have viewed the situation as
impartially as they knew how and
conferred with the Federal wal
agencies concerned:
l. There should be enough fuel
whether you use Oil or coal, but
you'll have to stretch your heat
farther, make 1t last longer. Oil
| will be rationed.
2. Nobody should be cold if sensi-
BILE precautions are taken.
3. Supplementary forms of heat
like stoves, fireplaces and gas OF
electric heaters-may be necessary
and methods of making the house OF
| apartment more heatable are recon-
| mended.
All this was brought out last eve
ming at forum on the Capital heat
ing situation in the Electric Insti-
| tute auditorium of the Pepco Build
ing.
Fears Coal Wouldn't Last.
While nobody knows exactly how
the fuels will last through the win
ter. since war conditions are no.
toriously unpredictable, those who
spoke, representing different branch
es of the heating industry, gave
their best prediction and soundest
advice.
While the co-ordinator OF Pc
troleum has had much to say about
the meager response to his appeal
to oil-burning households to convert
to oil, it's not as simple as it sounds,
according to w. w. Reed, manager
of John P. Agnew & Co., Inc, which
deals in both coal and fuel Oil.
While it is true, Mr.. Reed con-
ceded, that only about l per cent of
his firms oil-burning customers
have turned to coal-the Eastern
Seaboard average, at last report,
was less than l per cent--the COM
pany has ordered CRATES for some
clients as far back as August 10 and
hasn't received them yet.
Mr.. Reed also expressed doubt
that If 20 to Is per cent of Wash
ington customers converted, the
coal dealers would be able to handle
the demand.
IF there were a sudden cold
snap" he explained, II doubt if
there would be more than coal
enough to last two or three weeks.
Is Per Cent Less Fuel Oil.
While Mr.. Reed indicated there
was plenty of coal, especially
bituminous, in sight, the supply this
winter, he added, would depend on
the ability of the mines to produce
and the railroads to haul.
Local dealers, he added, hope te
build up their reserves around No
| vember /.
Lester S. Scott, secretary of the
fuel oil dealers section of the Mer.
chants and Manufacturers Associa.
ton, said there had been a lot oi
confusion about the heating situa-
ton, which the dealers had shared
with the public.
About 95 per cent of the oil was
brought into Eastern ports on tank
ers, he pointed out. and now trans
portation is completely reversed
approximately the same percentage
must be carried in tank cars OF
through pipe lines.
The people, said Mr.. Scott, can
look for about Is per cent less than
their normal supply of fuel oil.
Public Asked Not to Worry.
But I feel we are going to get
through the winter without any
real suffering" he added. I'VE are
going to have to conserve to meet
the rationing program, not because
we haven't the oil, but on account
of the transportation situation"
He felt, he said, that all the co.
600 homes in Washington using oil
could have their tanks filled, or
partly filled, within 80 days.
The man who does nothing to
conserve his fuel and make his heat
go farther will be the one penal
ized," Mr.. Scott declared.
He said the Office of Price Ad-
ministration would take into con-
sideration what was used last year,
and, If INSTRUMENTATION measures
were in effect then, credit would be
given.
Some of the fuel-oil dealers pres
ent implored the public not to get
worried and beset them with phone
calls. They are doing the best they
can, they insisted, and will fill all
orders without unreasonable delay,
with the lifting of the netrolerno