Evening star., 1943-11-01
Soft Coal Curb
Like|yasDea|ers
Supplies
New 'Rotioning' Step
May Be Necessary
In View of Strike

A new order limiting deliveries of
soft coal to half-ton or Today
supply, whichever is less, similar to
the directive on anthracite issued
last Saturday, was expected to be
placed in effect today, according to
a Government official
Whether or not this new step
toward coal 'rationing" is taken,
local domestic users would have few
prospects of getting their orders
filled unless they could prove they
were in dire need, it appeared today.
Illness or the presence Of small
children in the house might get
them half ton to tide them over,
but other deliveries. according 10
some dealers, would come virtually
to a standstill.
A meeting of the Coal Division OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association was scheduled. for this
afternoon 10 discuss steps that will
have TO be taken by dealers TO meet
serious conditions created by the
latest general mine strike.
Local Dealers Eyasiye.
Most local dealers were unwilling
to commit themselves on what the
full effects of the strike would be.
ITS all up 10 John L. Lewis and
the Policy Committee of the United
Mine Workers" one of them said.
What they door what the Gov
eminent does-will determine how
were coming out this winter"
Under present regulations issued
by Solid Fuels Administrator Ickes.
dealers are permitted to deliver a
half-ton or 10 days supply of an
thracite, whichever is less No re-
strlctlons had been placed. on soft
coal
Despite the half-ton order" en-
official of the Office of Defense
transportation said, the dealers
will probably not attempt to make
such small deliveries except to re-
lieve cases OF extreme hardship"
This official pointed out that not
only were supplies at low ebb but
manpOWer is still scarce among
coal dealers
ODT Pool Under Strain.
II was to solve this shortage Of
helpers and to conserve delivery
trucks that the ODT some time ago
entered into agreements with local
dealers associations. including the
merchants and manufacturers group
IN the District, to set up delivery
pools. Carrying out this agreement
at this time, under the half-ton
limitation, may be difficult. the ODT
admitted. but the agency recognizes
the nature of the emergency.
Dealers here estimated the sup
ply Of bituminous coal for house
hold use locally would last from 10
days to two weeks If dealers we're
careful not to deliver any to con-
SumerS who already have some on
hand. Most commercial users. he
said, have a comfortable supply and
there is enough coal in wards to
handle orders for another two weeks,
it was said. There is virtually no
anthracite In the city except that
which has already been delivered
to CONSUMERS bins.
. IF the public co-operates and
doesn't get excited - Patrick A. Desk,
manager Of Fadely & Co. said,
there is no reason 10 believe any,
one will go cold or plants close down
within the next week or so.
The weather is still fairly warm
and we're hoping we'll begin getting
new shipments next week. But
what's really going 10 hurt is the loss
Of production. Well feel that when
1t really gets cold. We're going to
need every ton of coal that can be
produced at the mines every day"
Serious Even if Strike Ends.
This view was shared by another
ODT spokesman, who said the supply
now is so short throughout the Ma
ton that many places were going
to have difficulty catching up, even
after the strike ends.
This official said that the great
est problem which would grow out of
the strike, if it lasts more than a
day or two, would be the necessity
for redlstributing coal stocks now In
the hands of certain large users. He
pointed out that this would place a
tremendous burden on the railroads,
but that it might become necessary
| to keep vital war plants opera ting.
"Of course" he added. home
users will find themselves left out in
the cold. II will simply be impossible
to redistribute stocks 10 domestic
| consumers
Allotment Boost Is Academic
| 1t was recalled that only a few
weeks ago, the Washington area was
granted IS per cent increase in its
| coal allotment over the original allo-
cation of 80 per cent of last winters
deliveries. This order, which would
have given the area about 3 per cent
more coal than was used last year,
was regarded today by Federal
officials and local dealers as largely
academic.
After ALL" they observed there
simply isn't any coal to deliver"
If the restriction order is extended
to soft coal today, only run-of the
mine stock will be left unlimited.
| This coal can be used for certain
industrial purposes. however, and is
practically valueless for home heat
ing.
ReinStitution of Interstate Com
merCe Commission Service Orders
l20 and 12l was expected soon in
line with conditions growing out of
the latest coal crisis These direc-
tives would limit rail shipments Of
coal to any area to 10 days supply.
Man Reports Loss Of 5000