Evening star., 1946-11-28
Fuel Consumers
|AgreeNewCurbs
Are Inevitable
Mild Weather and
Holiday Conserve
Supplies on Hand

IiOsiuOy SOHSS'
Supplies on Hand
The Districts heaviest users OF
coal today continued their search
for methods of stretching to the
utmost their diminishing reserves
Of fuel, with more drastic fuel saving
regulations in prospect If a coal
strike settlement Is long delayed.
While plans of procedured for
saving fuel differed and, in most
instances, were somewhat nebulous,
consumers were in agreement as to
one prospect.
They agreed 1t will be necessary
to impose more severe restrictions
than those already in effect, unless
the strike is settled soon.
All patrons of Potomac Electric
Power Co., schools and public
buildings, to industry, homes and
transportation, among others. would
be affected.
Two Causes for Thanks.
Meanwhile, the heavier consunl-
ers were thankful for two favorable
circumstances.
One was the continuation of the
mild weather which was credited
with reducing fuel requirements to
q minimum.
The other was the holiday which
will mean an estimated savings Of
4 500 to 1900 tons of fuel in the
District. These savings, as esti-
mated today, include about TOO tons
by the Potomac Electric Power Co.,
100 to 200 in city schools because
of holidays today and tomorrow.
and the remainder in publicly and
privately owned buildings closed for
the holidays.
At Pepco, Vice President James
II. Ferry estimated the company
has enough coal to last until about
January 8 or 4.
He said Pepco yesterday received
a small shipment of mot very good"
coal, SUFFICIENT for holiday operations
without drawing on the company
stockpile.
He added that power consumption,
as of last midnight, continued about
II to IL per cent below normal.
One Of the important contribu-
tiors to the coal savings, he said, Is
the limiting of heat in streetcars
to a maximum Of 40 degrees.
New Restrictions Studied.
Restrictions win have to be tight
ened considerably unless the coal
situation is improved, MIR. Ferry
said. Additional restrictions which
might be imposed now are being
studied. he added.
In the 100 city schools heated
with soft coal fires will be banked
through the week end. resulting in
q saving estimated by II. p. Stafford.
associate superintendent in charge
lof buildings and grounds, at 100 to
200 tons.
Mr.. Stafford explained the fuel
problems and requirements in the
system vary with the weather and
1.-THE building.
/ In some Of the buildings. he said.
the supply is sufficient for only q
few days. In some Of the smaller
buildings, enough coal Is on sfand
probably to last through the entire
school year.
School officials are studying meth
DDS of shifting coal from buildings
with large supplies to those with
limited reserves, Mr.. Stafford said.
Closing Of Schools Unlikely.
DR.. Hobart M. Corning, superin-
tendent, and other officials, agreed
there is no immediate prospect that
any of the school buildings will have
to be closed for lack of fuel.
DR.. John w. Studebaker, United
States commissioner of education.
said his department is preparing for
the possibility that many schools In
the Nation may be forced to close
and that they may want to use radio
facilities to continue class work in
the homes.
Cooperation Improving.
Meanwhile, reports of police, the
Civilian Production Administration
and other agencies indicated co-op-
Grafton with conservation regula-
tions is improving.
Police said no further violations
of the dimout have been reported
since two instances early in the
emergency. In both cases, threat
ened prosecution was waived when
violators agreed to cooperate.
In Alexandria, Va, Mayor William
T. wilkins again asked all residents
to comply with emergency restric-
tions as he appointed three-man
committee to represent the city in
the effort to conserve coal.
Members of the committee are
David C. Book, chairman, and
Francis n. Fannon and Irwin Diener.
The mayor ordered all street
lights under the city's control dim
med.
The Virginia Electric & Power Co.,
announced it has a 30-day supply.
In Alexandria, Vepco installed oil
burners on i've boilers of the plant
there.
In Bethesda, william L. Lebling,
president of the Chamber of Conn
Imerce, appealed for community CO.
Operation with fuel conservation.