Evening star., 1945-01-30
Dealers Believe
Coal Emergency
Is Over Hump
Police Certify Total
Of 685 Homes as
Without Supplies

Washington police have certified
q total of 685 homes as without
coal supplies up to noon today, and
a spokesman for the Merchants &
Manufacturers Association declared
that it appeared coal dealers were
"over the hump" so far as emer-
gency delivery orders were con-
cerned.
Steady lines of homeowners were
reported at the associations head
quarters this morning, appearing
with their police-certifled applica-
tionS for coal deliveries. The asso-
citation said it had no estimate of
the number of deliveries made to-
day. Yesterdays total was 200.
The 685 certificates issued by the
various precincts were for the period
beginning at am. yesterday when
the emergency program went in
effect. Of this number 400 had been
issued between pm. yesterday and
noon today.
In No. IL precinct, which covers
the area east of the Anacostia River
police started out in a scout cal
this morning with list of 40 homes
where bins were to be inspected.
200 Orders Cleared.
A number of coal orders based on
certificates issued yesterday were
promptly filled. A. P. Brown, chair
man of the coal division of the Mer-
chants & Manufacturers ASsocia-
ton, said an order received at the
coal divisions offices by or 2 o'clock
in the afternoon should be filled the
same day.
Edward D. Shaw, secretary of the
association, said about 200 emer-
gency orders were cleared through
the coal division of the association
yesterday. He said he expects today
will be the heaviest day for orders
will be the heaviest day for orders.
The three-day railroad embargo
on nonmilitary freight in the
Northeast ended at midnight, but
Solid Fuels Administrator Ickes said
decreased coal production due to a
shortage of gondola cars at the
mines is expected to continue this
week.
Car Shortage Costly.
The car shortage will cost the
United States several million tons
of fuel it can i'll afford to lose at this
time" Mr.. Ickes said.
Rail car congestion in ice-clogged
Northern yards had delayed the un-
loading and return of cars to mines
during the week ending January 20.
During that week, hard coal pro-
duction was 100000 tons, or 1873 1000
tons less than the week before, and
263, 900 tons less than for the corre-
spending week of last year. Soft
coal production for the week was
IL $780, 900 tons, which was 10000
tons under the preceding week and
$4,000 tons lower than in the corre-
spending week of last year.
Emergency coal orders here are
handled through the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association after
the consumer obtains a police Ger
tif1cate that his bin is empty. The
association Office is in The Star
Building. Many persons yesterday
tried to reach the coal divisions
Office by calling The Evening Star,
which is not connected with the as
sociation. The coal divisions tele-
phone number is National 6767.
Montgomery Uses Two Stats.
In Montgomery County, Md,
clearing houses for emergency needs
for coal have been set up in the
Office of Civilian Defense in the
Bethesda and Silver Spring County
Buildings. County health inspectors,
some other county employees and the
county police force will make in
spections to certify that bins are
empty.
The householder then will call at
the OCD Office either at Bethesda
or Silver Spring with the order for
coal and the OCD will try to locate
the coal in the community.
AS in Washington, Montgomery
County coal consumers with five
day supply or more are asked to
notify their usual coal dealer and
their orders will receive second pri-
ority, coming after those from con-
sumers without coal. Their notifca-
tions to their dealers likewise will
help in estimating the probable
minimum requirements of the area.
In Arlington about Is certificates
were issued yesterday and a central
clearing office was set up in Room
2l3 of the courthouse so that Ar
lington residents need not take their
certificates to Washington. The
clearing office forwards the certifi-
Gates to the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association.
Two Arlington policemen were as
signed to make the inspection.
The War Production Boards order
browning out" unessential lighting
to save coal goes into effect at mid
night tomorrow. The Office of War
Utilities announced it will be rigidly
interpreted and inforced.
The WPB ruled that if a store.
theater or other business considers
that the order would cut off lights
necessary to public health or safety,
the establishment must present to
the nearest WPB field Office a state
ment to that effect from local, fire,
police or health authorities.