Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1919 — CITY AFFECTED BUT LITTLE [ARTICLE]

CITY AFFECTED BUT LITTLE

BY FUEL - ORDERS —INDUSTRY NOT TO BE CRIPPLED THE SLIGHTEST. t ~. r -•• m Copies of the fuel orders issued by the United States railroad administration were received here this Monday morning by W. H. Beam, fuel administrator for the county, and a review of them shows that the city and county will be but little affected by them. Various interpretations have been placed on some of the regulations by directors in all parts of the country, and until clearer statements are issued the fuel directors will use their own judgment on many of the points in question. Rensselaer’s industries will not be crippled to the slightest extent by the orders, other than of lighting. Business houses and private homes will reduce their lighting to the lowest degree possible and all window and sign lighting during the night will be dispensed with. Apparently the coal strike is about to end, but the production is thousands of tons behind and it will be necessary to keep the regulations as made by the government in effect for some time to come. The orders, as issued by Mr. Garfield, follow: ———— .r— — “It is necessary that coal shall be used only for essential purposes. Public utilities consuming coal should discontinue to furnish power, heat and light to non-essential industries and should only consume sufficient coal to produce enough light, power and heat to meet the actual, urgent needs of the people. Advertising signs and displays of various kinds necessitating the use of coal should be curtailed and no coal should be distributed for such purposes. Pursuant to this policy I have requested the railroad administration in, the distribution of coal now or hereafter in its possession to limit distribution to these essential and urgent uses. As far as practicable, until the conditions warrant a change, the distribution of coal will be limited to the first five classes .of the priority list. Retail dealers who distribute coal for household requirements, heating hotels, buildings, hospitals, etc., should take every precaution to see that coal is only delivered where it is absolutely required and then only in such limited quantities that the supply may be distributed widely and prevent suffering. The state and other local authorities can materially aid in inspecting and supervising such distribution by retail dealers and the United States government will be glad to leave the supervision and control of such distribution by retail dealers entirely to any state, county, or municipality which may make provisions therefor. The distribution to the retail dealers must necessarily be administered by the railroad administration in pursuance of the orders already made by the United States Fuel Administration in carrying out the priorities which have been prescribedunder the Lever act. ~ A GARFIELD, “United States Fuel Administrator.” In regard to question preference list, description applicable, the following order of preference has been established by the fuel administration : (a) Railroads. (b) Army and Navy; together with other departments of federal government. (c) State and county departments and institutions. (d) Public utilities. (e) Retail dealers. (f) Manufacturing plants on war industries board’s preference list. (g) Manufacturing plants not on ,w»r industries boardb preference list. (h) "Jobbers. (i) Lake. (j) Tidewater.