Evening star., 1942-05-11

ID. T.. Area FavorabIy
Situated for Supply
0fCoaI, 0. D. I. Says
Nelson Worms, However,
Of Winter Rotionine
Unless Reserves Are Built

officials of the Office of Defense
Transportation said today that the
Washington area is one of the most
favorably situated in the country for
obtaining coal. Their statement fol-
lowed a warning by Donald M. Mel
son, war production chief, that
emergency coal rationing is probable
unless consumers Immediately build
up their reserve supplies to "the
limit of storage capacity"
That prospect is in view for the
fall and winter, Defense Transporta-
ton Director Joseph B. Eastman
said Saturday, solely because of
transport difficulties.
AS to the Washington situation,
however, an o. D. T. coal expert said
that emphasis at the present time
is being placed on areas more re-
mote from oal-producing regions,
such as New England and the
Northwest States.
ID. c. in Crescent.
Washington, he pointed out.sis In
the center of crescent" of coal
mining territory extending from
Eastern Pennsylvania through the
western part of the State, West Vir-
ginia and Virginia. This area also
has the advantage of large num-
ber of transport arteries extending
from this mining region, he said,
and in an emergency coal could even
be brought up the Potomac on
barges from Hampton Roads. Va.
Much fuel for northern Atlantic
seaboard points moves by sea and
is subject to the submarine menace.
When the situation in these more
remote States clarifies in 30 to so
days, the official said, the o. D. T.
can begin surveying the needs of
the nearby areas. For the present,
he added, I'VE are not at all
alarmed"
Mr.. Nelson said in an open letter
that the fuel Oil situation on the
East Coast, plus prospective winter
transport problems, make stock
piling operations now of great i'm
portance to all consumers who are
now dependent or who may later
became dependent on coal for heat
ing
More Coal to Be Burned.
IN addition to transportation
problems, it is obvious that we shall
consume much more coal than we
do ordinarily" Mr. Nelson said. "All
these factors add up to the fact
that we can meet all demands and
Keep all our operations running
smoothly only If we plan the min
ing and transportation of coal dur
ing the year so that steady maxi
mum use is made of our production
and transportation facilities
A partial survey of Washington
coal dealers showed that consumer
demand has been much greater
this spring than in the same period
OF recent years.
But the Merchants and Manu-
facturerS' Association reported that
figures on coal receipts show that
stockpiles in the hands of dealers
probably are not above normal and
if anything bit kower. During the
year ending March 81, dealers re-
ceived shipments totaling 10000
tons less than last year, it was
said.
Receipts by the Government and
utilities were about 10 per cent high
er, but this, it was noted, reflects
increased consumption resulting
from the greater population.
Mild Winter Was Factor.
The reduced shipments to Wash
ington in the past year, association
officials said, probably reflect the
exceedingly mild winter and to some
extent conversion to oil heat.
Demands here will depend to some
extent, one dealer said, on the de-
gree to which Oil heaters are con-
verted to coal. Few such changes
have been made to date, it was re-
ported, and difficulties are expected
in any such transfer because of
cost and priorities.
Another dealer predicted the
wholesalers and retailers will be
hard put" to furnish needed coal
in the coming fall and winter be-
cause of lack of consumer response
to the Buy Coal Now" campaign
sponsored by the Bituminous Coal
Division. The division said, how
ever, that the public has reacted
quite favorably" to the drive on a
Nationwide scale.
Wholesale Prices Frozen.
Mr.. Nelson's warning came as the
Nation prepared for price ceilings
imposed in the fight to control the
cost of living.
The first step in the overall price
fixing program became effective last
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