Evening star., 1950-03-01
GSACuts Down Heat
In Federal BUILDINGS
To Conserve Coal

Further fuel-saving moves for
public and private buildings here
were under way today as coal sup
plies dwindled and colder weather
was predicted.
Federal employees in the 325
buildings under jurisdiction of the
General Services Administration
found indoor temperatures at a
68-degree average instead of the
usual 72-74 readings.
Jess Larson, GSA chief, ordered
the cut yesterday to conserve the
Federal Governments stockpile,
which is down to a two week sup
ply.
He explained that pressure has
bsen lowered in the two main
heating plants under his control.
There was no way of laying down
a hard and fast rule for a 68-
degree maximum because of the
variety of heating systems in the
buildings, he said. But he was
confident that such temperatures
were being maintained today.
Pentagon Co-operates.
The Pentagon also has fallen
into line" GSA officials said. It
has its own power plant, but gets
coal from the fuel yards super
vised by the Federal Bureau of
Supply.
David A. Lynn, architect of the
Capitol, said heat in the Capitol
Senate and House Office Buildings
and several other structures in
the area has not been reduced as
yet. This group of Government
buildings is heated by one large
plant
Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee said to-
day he had received assurance
that churches would be given spe-
cial consideration under the emer-
gency policy of restricting coal
allotments to places of public
assembly.
Mr.. Mcmillan said he had been
disturbed by indications in pub
lished accounts of the conserva-
ton measures that churches
would be in the same category as
theaters and other places of
amusement.
Il have checked on this" Mr..
Mcmillan said, "and the officials
assure me churches will have a
priority"
District government buildings
and many privately owned build
ings have been operating at re-
duced temperature levels almost
two weeks.
Officials said they expected
most other commercial and Gov
ernment buildings in the nom
priority groups to take similar
measures. Hospitals and similar
institutions, as well as essential
industries on the top priority list,
will have enough coal to last them
for about three weeks, j. Thomas
Kennedy, chairman of the Dis
trict Fuel Co-ordinating Com
mittee said.
Schools Set. for Week.
Public schools have sufficient
supplies for the rest of this week
and probably until next Wednes-
day or Thursday, Associate Super
intendent John M. Riecks re-
ported. They recently received
some coal from the Federal stock
pile.
While the temperature returned
to the middle 40s today, the
Weather Bureau looked for a
drop to, the upper 20s tonight,
with continued cold tomorrow.
The 5000 tons of soft coal bor-
roWed by the District from the
Potomac Electric Power Co. is
still intact Mr.. Kennedy said.
That supply is earmarked for
extreme emergency distribution
to prevent suffering and major
damage TO physical installations.
Mr.. Kennedy said the committee
has not yet received any such
emergency request.
Dealers held out a dim hope
that another 3,400 tons might
reach them through regular
channels. The shipments were
arranged some time ago. but
there is no assurance it will ar
rive, they said.