Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-31
Fuel OIL Dealers Meet
With Ration Officials
On Delivery Problem
Hope to Work Out
Solution Before New
Cold Spell Comes

Cold Spell Comes
Fuel oil dealers were working
in conjunction with rationing
authorities today in an effort to
ward off serious distribution
problems before the next cold
spell brings hardship to hun
dreds of oil-heated homes In this
area.
Persons conversant with local con-
ditions still believed that the task
of getting oil from the dealers to
the consumers was the major prob :,
lem. Although it was conceded that
suppliers' stocks were not at the
same comfortable levels they we're
during pre-ration days, 1t was felt
that the total supply is adequate
provided equitable means of dis
tributing it can be worked out
According to Lester Scott, director
of the Oil Heating Division of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, the local supply situation
Is tight" but he said 1T hasn't
yet reached the point where there
isn't any OIL"
Full Stocks Wouldn't Help.
GAS matter of fact" Mr. Scott
pointed out, st wouldn't help very
much If there was plenty of oil here
so long as the distribution difflcul-
tiles still existed"
The first steps in making distri-
button easier were already being
taken by ,Renah F. Camalier, OPA
consultant to the District. who be-
gan yesterday to reduce the extent
of the areas covered by fuel oil
dealers. Mr. Camalier said, at his
suggestion, one company yesterday
transferred 40 of It's customers to
another dealer whose bulk plant was
in the area to be served.
He explained that he hoped to
extend this system to other COM
panies. Although this first step in
creased to some extent the load on
the firm which accepted the new
customers. Mr. Camalier said he
hoped full-fedged coordination
of effort would eventually bring
about a balance in that dealers
would, In effect, trade" customers.
Dealers Cooperate.
Mr.. Camalier said he has discov-
cred willingness on the part Of
dealers to cooperate in any plan
that will relieve the overburdened
situation.
Il see no reason he said, why
anybody should be out Of oil pro-
vided there is enough oil in the
District"
A list of complaints and SUCCESS
tons from the fuel oil dealers them
selves was to be transmitted to Mr..
Camalier by Mr.. Scott today. The
OPA consultant said he hoped to
/ prepare report on the basis of this
survey and present it to Price Ad-
ministrator Leon Henderson later
| today.
/ Mr. Scott said he was hopeful
that favorable developments would
emerge from this report over the
weekend. He said dealers we're
anxious to cooperate with Mr..
Camalier to straighten out their
troubles.
Behind in Deliveries.
Dealers reported they were still
several days behind in their de-
liverieS, but in most instances sup
plies were still available. One large
Alexandria distributor reported,
however, that he has been receive
ing Oil in quantities too small to
guarantee normal deliveries for his
customers. He said it has been nee
essary for him to dole out his sup
ply at the rate of 100 gallons
maximum to a customer.
This helps the customer and us
temporarily" he said, but at the
same time it lays the basis for a
new bottleneck in week or so
when every one will have run out
Of oil again and we'll have to do
the same thing over-providing we
have OIL"
He said that in one day recent
| ly, at least 40 out of LAT customers
he served had been without oil
| for at least one day.
| Stoves Now Available.
Meanwhile, In an effort to en-
courage the use of coal instead Of
oil, Whitney Leary, District OPA
director. announced that coal-fired
stoves are available to persons sub
shutting this source of heat for OIL.
burning equipment and for oil con-
sumers who are eligible for auxiliary
rations of $50 gallons or more.
Others eligible to obtain coal stoves
are those replacing worn out or
damaged equipment and those who
must heat space not now heated
in any other manner.
Certificates for the purchase OF
officiating equipment will be avail
able only when:
The space to be heated is a house
trailer.
There Is no coal-burning eouip-
ment available.
NO member Of the household ia
physically able to operate coal-burn-
ing equipment.
There Is no f1ue or chimney or
other provision for venting.