The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-01

washington, Sept. 1-Preparing for an anticipated increased demand from consumers of coal this fall and winter, the Office of Defense Trans portation, in cooperation with other Government agencies, is getting up an extensive program to assist coal dealers throughout the country in making arrangements for delivery of fuel to all who need 1t, Joseph B. Eastman, Director of the ODT, ar- nounced today.
 Pointing out that delivery prob- lens have been accentuated by Q manpower shortage and in some To- calities by lack of adequate facilities I for equitable distribution of existing inventories, MT. Eastman announced that ODT men in the field will work with dealer groups to help stabilize employment and to obtain the max imum use of present delivery trucks.
 Officials of the War Manpower Commission, with ODT field men cooperating, are to act on labor shortages wherever the situation warrants. It may be necessary, 1t was pointed out, to declare the re- tail coal industry in many commun- ities one which is locally needed" '" a classification which would be con- sidered by local Selective Service boards when determining requests for deferment.
 Tt has been found necessary to revise our delivery estimates up- Ward," MT. Eastman declared, "be- cause many more homes this winter, after the experience of last year, have converted from use of other fuels to heating with coal"
 He added that after consultation with experts in the trade and in other Government agencies, ODT believes residential consumption of bituminous and anthracite during the 1943-44 winter months will top 1941- -42's consumption figures by nearly 9 per cent.
 And this increased need for coal" MT. Eastman pointed out comes at a time when the motor vehicles transporting solid fuels have to reduce their mileage in order to conserve vehicles, parts, manpower. tires and fuel.
 We haven't got the motor vehi- cles we had in 194l, and that goes for other motor transport as well as the delivery services of coal yards. !"
 MT. Eastman explained that the increasing age of trucks now in use. together with the fact that truck replacements are not keeping pace with truck retirements. makes neces- sary drastic revision of the normal delivery practices in the solid fuel trade.
 Ample consideration has been given," Mir. Eastman said," to the large housing developments and to the people living in sparsely settled areas adjacent to urban commun- ities."
 Pooling of vehicles and loading up at one another's yards will not be uncommon this winter. Mr. Eastman predicted. He added that the oDT is lending its facilities to see that no industrial plants go without coal and that no homes 90 cold because of delivery failures. but he made 1t clear that in the final analysis 1t is up to the trade to make the plan work.
 Mechanics Of The Program
 Dealer committees will be selected in each of the i42 ODT motor trans- port districts and these win recon. mend the names Of dealers in va Fious communities to serve on local committees. whezeSSr distribution problems in>lcatl they ere needed. These commiaees will assist the oDT district managers in providing delivery plans flexible enough Co