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100 PER CENT AMERICAN
FOUNDED A. D. 1867.—VOL. CXI —No. 172.
WILMINGTON, N. C., THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 23, 1923.
OLDST DAILY IN THE STATE.
Wumingtonians Behold A
Vast Revelation In Visit
To Bolton Drainage Tract
tVaecamaw Lumber Co. Demon
strates Big Work of Drain
ing Forest District
BLACK LANDS ARE RICH
IN SUPERIOR CORN CROP
Drainage and Development of
Green Swamp Country At
tracts Western Farmers
By T. W. CLAWSON
How to win wealth and population
for North Carolina was demonstrated
f. Bolton, Columbus county, yester
by the Waccamaw, Lumber com
pany. The opportunity to do it was
shown on a Green swamp tract of 206,
fiiin acres of land, 28,000 acres of
which have been reclaimed for rich
farms and fortunate new comers to
North Carolina. A vast morass has
been reclaimed and nearly 300 invited
euests of F. L. Finkenstaedt, general
manager of the company, beheld a
revelation in a vast area of corn grow
ing ten to 12 feet high on the most
valuable black lands In America.
Farther than the eye could see over
waving corn, there were thousands of
acres of reclaimed land shut out from
view by a corn crop of such area as
never was before seen by the oldest
of North Carolinians. .
Wlimingtonlnns Beheld It
Best of all, many of Wilmington's
business men were Mr. Finkenstaedt's
guests and he demonstrated to them
the great opportunity which capital
has in such undertakings as that
spread out before their eyes. Upon
Mr. Finkenstaedt's invitation promin
ent citizens from New Hanover, Bruns
wick, Columbus and Bladen picnicked
with him at Bolton yesterday. He en
tertained them at a chicken dinner and
barbecue in a tent spread in the
cleared area of a former island, in
what once was one of the largest
swamps in North Carolina.
Reclamation and Homesteading
Mr. Finkensaedt’s object in inviting
the people of four counties to spend
the day with him was to enabled them
tc take a close up view of one of the
largest land reclamation developments
in the state, t was his purpose to
enable them to observe an achieve
ment which has resulted in the com
plete drainage of 28,000 acres of rich
black lands in a green swamil tract
of 2n6.000 acres, purchased by the
Waccamaw company in 1906. While
the whole tract is immense, ft is only
a hit of a North Carolina swamp which
is is miles long, and from four to 12
miles wide, embraced in the counties
of Columbus, Bladen and Brunswick.
Regarded by most people as Impenetr
able and practically valueless for any
thing it is immense in value in cypress,
juniper, pine and hardwood timbers.
The part of it which lies around Bol
ton has been conquered and restored
to civilization.
How It was none
The holdings of * the Waccamaw
Lumber company in Green swamp, were
bought for their timber value, and
:hat is estimated at millions of dol
ars. The company established a
arge lumber plant at Bolton, on the
Atlantic Coast Line, 39 miles from Wil
mington. and the industry has built
ip a prosperous town at that locality.
Lie company's first office was in a
icxcar side tracked there by the rail
road. but it now has commodious of
fices near the plant. The company’s
alant is now running night and day
in the manufacture of high grade lum
ber. shingles and boxshooks. The saw
mill cuts 85,000 feet of lumber a day,
toe shingle mill manufactures 75,000
juniper shingles a day, and ten car
loads of boxshooks are shipped every
month. The company operates a large
Planing mill, and the whole plant is I
bne of the most modern lumbering in
3us*ries in the great timber region of
“astern North Carolina.
Conquering the Monster Swamp
In order to get its timber out of an
area covered wi-th water the company
bad to dredge canals and construct
miles of logging railroads extending
into the morass. Old natives say it
"as once the habitat of panthers and
wolves, and nobody knows but what
those beasts are yet hiding in distant
Parts of the swamp. As fast as the
big lumber company removed the tim- ■
bpr and converted it into thousands of
carloads of products for. the market,
it began, on a systematic plan, to
drain the lands and reclaim them for
farm development.
Networked With Canals
The 28,000 acres from which the
"ater has been drained are covered
"ith a network of 45 miles of canals,
besids that, many miles of collateral
drainage ditches have been cut as the
land was made fit for cultivation. The
drainad area is now made accessible
tr‘ automobiles which use the ccffi
Pany's good roads system embracing
ten miles of highways for removal of^
immense crops of corn and other
PrM uce. . v .
\ nst Stretches of Corn
va=t stretches of magnificent eorn
the view of the viators. As far as
''p' could see over the waving green,
was corn from eight to 12 feet
1 - i, loaded down with huge ears of
|’'rnn almost ready for the harvest.
.1.■...-ever, much of it will not be gath
eJ‘ l till late in December, for in this
f 'rate corn remains in the stalk with
o deterioration from the weather.
,M the 28th of December, 1919, Secre
V,rv of the Interior Lane, in Presl
■ f "'ilson’s cabinet, was amazed
he found an immense acreage or
",.rn standing in the fields without the
s ’ehtc-st hurt from the winter rains,
immense field of corn was planted
late as june 4tti but it had reached
ii-aturitv and nature is curing It for
rib when it suits the corn grow
ls to gather it. Corn cribs all over
(Continued on Page Two)
First Bale of Cotton
Marketed in Dunn, N. C.
(Special to The Star)
DUNN, Aug. 22.—A bale of new
crop cotton was sold on the Dunn-,
market today. It was grown on the
farm of Arthur Pope by Elliott
Spears, a negro, tenant.
The cotton graded middling and
was sold to J. D. Thompson & Co.,
local cotton merchants for 25 cents
the pound.
. The cotton was picked last week
brought to a local gin yesterday,
though it was not ginned until this
morning.
The bale was sold before noon
today apd it is thought that, it was
the first bale of 1023 cotton market
ed in the state.
I
FEDERAL OFFICERS
MAKE BIG HAUL IN
RIVER STILL RAIDS
Amos Wallace, Negro, is
Brought in To Face Charges
of Distilling
A modern copper still of 50 gallon
capacity, a garbage can still, and
Amos Wallace, negro, the alleged dis
tiller in the custody of the sheriff, is
the result of a whiskey hunt made by
plainclothesman, Leon George, E. R.
Lilly, deputy United States marshal,
and several other Federal officers
yesterday.
The officers had to go ten miles up
the river to make their find.
What is termed to be one of the
biggest hauls' of late is the story told
by Officer George, who was at the hfead
of the party. Mr. George said last
night, that the officers encountered
difficulty in their search. Their boat
turned over, ducking the entire party
and then the receding tide made it
hard for the small craft to make any
time going up the stream with stumps
and logs in the way of the boat.
When the first still, made of copper,
with 50 gallon capacity, was found the
officer stated that about 200 gallons
of mash was found together with a
gallon of the finished product. The
alleged owner of the plant was on the
job, having just come down to make
his day’s run. He immediately sur
rendered, and his plant and liquor
confiscated.
Several other trips were made in the
vicinity of the first one and in the
midst of what George says is one of
the darkest wilds of the county, they
found another plant with only five
hundred or more gallons of mash, ready
for operation. This still was one of
the modern make, built on a platform
out in the middle of the stream with a
concrete furnace and barrels, bottles
and some 20 or more discarded cans
thrown aside, similiar to the can which
was being used for the distillery. No
one was found at the still.
Two Marine Aviators
Plunge to Death as
Planes Crash in Air
PENSACOLA, Fla., Aug. 22—Under
going combat practice which would
have completed their aviation training
course, Capt. George F. Hill and First
Lieut. Cornelius McFadden, both of the
United States marine corps, were killed
when a plane which they were flying
collided with another machine piloted
by First Lieut. M. A. Riehal, in mid
air, and fell more than 3,000 feet at
the naval air station here today.
An investigation of the accident has
been ordered by the navy department
at Washington.
Riehal miraculously escaped death
when his machine went into a long
glide. It was upside-down during the
long fall of 3,000 feet, and IVas in that
position when it landed on ai paved
highway leading from Pensacola to the
naval air station. The running gear
was undamaged.
Nineteen Injured When
Pullmans Are Ditched
maple LAKE, Minn., Aug. 22.—
Nineteen persons were Injured, one
seriously when three Pullmans and the
observation coach on the "Wlnninpeg
flyer of the Minneapolis, St. Paul &
Sault Ste Marie railway were derailed
and toppled over into a ditch* near here
early tonight.
Mrs. B. F. Socoggin, of Oak, Nebr.,
suffered a depression of the ^skull.
Alabama House Votes
$10,000,000 Credit
For Port at Mobile
MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 22.—By
. vote of 68 to 31 the house of the
Alabama legislature this afternoon
passed , the Holcomb bill. 6 providing
[or the state lending Its credits to the
imount of $10,000,000 for the develop
ment of Mobile port.
WORLD LARGEST PLANE
SAILS OVER DAYTON IN
TRIAL AT 9^<LE GAIT
—/^_
Carries Up er Henry Barl
ing Def " v^r and Three
C s of Crew
- DAYTr I, Aug: 22.—The Barling
bomber, 'v, id’s largest airplane, took
oft from Wflbur Wright field at about
6:20 o‘clock after several minutes pre
liminary tuning of the six Liberty
motors by mechanics. It rose easily
from the ground after a comparatively
short run and in a few minutes was
about 2,000 feet in the air. Aerial ex
perts who are witnessing the flight
say the ship appears to answer per
fectly to the controls an the motors
seen to be functioning smoothly.
The ship after circling over the field
apparently well in hand started off in
a flight toward Dayton. First plans
were^for the plane to sail immediately
above the field on its test flight to be
ready for.an immediate landing in an
emergency but the pilot plainly was
so confident of his hrip that he was
willing to take the big craft over the
[ city.
The plane.was travelling at the rate
Of 9- miles and 'hour.
The bomber following a 25 mile
'swing through the air made a perfect
landing at 6:45 p. m. today. TheO big
ship took off on its epoch making trip
at 6:18 p. m.
Walter Henry Darling, designer of
the huge craft, was one of the crew
of four men who managed the ship on
its maiden flight. Lieuts. Harold R.
Harris and M. S. Fairchield of McCook
field, piloted the bomber. Douglas
Culver, McCook field • mechanic, was
in charge of the engines.
MAIL PLANE FLIGHT
ENDS SUCCESSFULLY
Johnson Lands at Hempstead
and Vance in San Fran
cisco on Time
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 22.— (By As
sociated Press).—San Francisco mov
ed nearly four days’ travel nearer New
York today through the success of the
air snail service’s first test of night
flytr.g westbound. Pilot £lair K Vance
bxrought more than 40 pounds of mail
from Eastern points to Cirssy field here
tonight at 6:24 o’clock, 34 hours and
23 minutes after the first batch of it
ljad left Hempstead field, Lonk Island
yesterday morning.
This mail was delivered tonight so
that within an hour official messages
from Mayor Hylan of New York to
Mayor Rolph of San Francisco, or from
eastern mail officials to those in
charge of the service’s affairs in the
west, were being read.
Vance clambered out of his seat with
a smile. He is a veteran air mail pilot
and, except for an added effort to make
speed on the fields and in flight, to
day's effort was nothing unusual for
him. He served as an instructor in
France for American aviators. He said
there had been no unusual incident in
connection with his flight.
HEMPSTEAD, N. Y„ Auer. 22.—The
first transcontinental mail flight from
San Francisco'was completed at Hazle
hurst Field at 4:14 o’clock eastern stan
dard time when Pilot C. Eugene John
son, who took the first west bound
bound mail plane out yesterday, land
ed with the plane he had taken over
from an eastbound pilot at Cleveland
shortly after noon.
He had a load of mail with which
he had started from Cheyenne last
night after .the first east bound effort
at continental air mail service had
been broken at Laramie, Wyo„ 50 miles
west of Cheyenne. Johnson brought
the plane from Cleveland, where he re
lieved Pilot Wakner.
Immediately Johnson landed the mail
bags were unloaded, and rushed on a
truck to Minneola, where they were
put on a train for New York. Within
two - hours after the plane touched
ground, the mail was being delivered.
Johnson flew from here to Cleveland
yesterday taking the first westbound
air mail. When he arrived there he was
ill with tonsilitis, from which he had
been suffering for several days, but
nevertheless insisted upon making the
return trip.
He made the 435 miles in three hours
and twelve minutes, averaging approx
tmately 13 miles an hour, one time
over Belle Fonte, Pa., he attained an
altitude of 11,000 feet. The plane was
a Dehaviland two passenger, converted
into a one passenger, the extra space
being used for the mail cargo.
The eastern flight from San Fran
sisco was broken when Pilot Collisson
had trouble in reaching Cheyenne, and
the relay plane started off without
waiting for him.
U. S, TRIES TO SELL
18 SHIPPING ROUTES
Ships Will go With Them if
Negotiations are Concluded
in New York
Washington, Aug. 22.—commis- <
sloners O’Connor and Llsner of the ship
ping board will renew efforts in New
York tomorrow for the sale of 18 rout
es now operated with government ves
sels.
Efforts will be made particularly,
Mr. Lisner said today, to conclude ne
gotiations for the sale of 1 ships now
operated on trans-pacific routes by the
Pacific Mall Steamship company and
the Admiral line. Each company opera
tes five passenger cargo shipping board
vessels.
FRENCH REPLY HAS
i APPROVAL OF PRESS,
BUT NOT OF GURZON
Separate Action by British Not
Expected Nor is U. S. In
1 terference
HUN INTEREST LESS
THAN FRENCHMEN PAY
PARIS, Aug. 22.—Premier Poincare's
reply to Marquis Curzon’s reparations
note seems to suit the French press
and to strike a popular chord in bub
lio opinion.
Few members of parliament are in
Paris? most of them being occupied
in meetings of the general councils
of the various- departments, but those
who were in the lobbies of the cham
ber this afternoon united in approving
tKe premier’s stanch. . ,
The part of the note that appealed
most to the political leaders was that
in which M. Poincare asked Lord Cur
zon if France -should be treated by
her allies more severely than Great
Britain wanted to treat Germany, th'eir
former common enemy.
Great stress was, also laid on the
assertion, that Germany’s calamity is
one of their own making with interior
debt and a foreign debt of only 50
billion marks, and an annual interest
charge much less than that France is
obliged to bear. At the same time,
it was declared, Germany had profited
from the stoppage of ’ work in the
Ruhr, by putting her industries in
such shape that, when a settlement is
finally reached she will be able to
Compete more sharply than ever with
those countries which suffered damage
at her hands.
Comment in official quarters indi
cates plainly that Premier Poincare
anticipates continuation of the discus
sion with' the British cabinet. In
political circles outside the govern
ment there is not so much confidence
that London will desire to go on with
the argument, but nowhere among
public men, or in the press does there
appear any great apprehension - as to
the consequences of eventual separate
action by the British government.
American participation in any in
ternational export conference to fix
Germany’s capacity to pay, Is regarded
as altogether unlikely, and it is not
thought the British will desire to take
the risk of proposirig'reference of the
Ruhr occupation question to the in
ternational court at The Hague in the
face of France’s refusal to accept the
jurisdiction of the court in this ques
tion.
MAYOR COWAN TELLS
OF GREAT ADVANTAGE
OF 12-FOOT CHANNEL
List of Shippers is Being Se
cured Who Will Use
Waterway
Mayor James H. Cowan is of the
opinion that the main thing needed for
the intra-coastal -canal from Beaufort
to the Cape Fear river is a convincing
display of shippers who will use the
canal when it is built. And the m^yor
is securing a list of shippers that 'will
use the new waterway route which will
be presented to the government engi
neers at Washington along with a let
ter from the Diamond Steamboat and
Wrecking company and the Southern
Transportation- company of Philadel
phia. The latter companies assure the
people that they will operate a barge
line if the canal is built. There was a
survey made some time ago for an 8
foot channel but it is a 12 foot chan
nel that is needed. The channel from
Norfolk to Beaufort is 12 feet.
"If we get the 12-foot channel we
Shall have the big New York yachts
coming through on their way to Flor
ida. We snail have them tied up at
our docks and their wealthy owners
and their guests will see Wilmington
and seeing, invest their money here.
I happen to have yacht club connec
tions that have brought me into con
tact with some of these yacht owners
and they are enthusiastic for the in
tra coastal canal. From the moutk
the Cape Fear—navigation to Florida
is comparatively safe,” said the mayor.
"The intracoastal canal dodges the
Cape Fear shoals and the Frying Pan,
which General Eixby, former head of
the government engineers called the
grave yard of the sea. That's where
the tug Juno foundered. You noticea
in the Star today that the Diamond
Steamboat and Wrecking company is
taking off its barges because of the
danger of these shoals? That is one
of the best arguments we can use for
the survey of the 12-foot channel and
the building of the canal. The origin
al estimate at eight feet called for an
outlay of about $5,000,000. We estimate
that the 12-foot channel would cost
about $6,000,000.
‘‘With barges operating between
Norfolk and Cape Fear and Wilming
ton, freight rates would be lessened.
There would be no tying up of steam
ships by strikes as occurred when the
Clyde line boat failed to get in the
other day and held back cargoes need
ed here. Few persons or firms could
operate steamships but barges cost
less to build and maintain. State roads
could carry produce to landings near
towns along the canal line and take
back goods from the big towns.
"Commerce on the canal from Nor
folk to Beaufort increased last year
and the year before and much more
this year. This fact will be one of our
exhibits to show ‘the government engi
neers the economic value of the pro
posed enterprise. They already are
sold on the practicability of the chan
nel.” ' ■ • ■
HOUSE AND CONTENTS
BURN NEAR MT. OLIVE
WITH LOSS OF $5,000
Daniel Lane Shot in Dispute
Returning From Church
With Friends .
By HOMER BROCK
MOUNT OLIVE, Aug. 22.—The'farm
home of L. B. Dail. about four miles
north of Mount Olive, was destroyed by
fire Monday afternoon. Practically all
of the contents were burned, together
with a quantity of tobacco, stored up
stairs. The origin of the fire Is unde
termined. The loss is at least $5,000,
With about $2,500 insurance.
Daniel Lane, a young white man, is
suffering at his home here from two
pistol shot wounds received a night or
two ago when returning from church
with a party of friends. He met, an
other young white man by the name of
Street Carter, with whom he got into
a dispute and Who, it is alleged, had to
use his pistol in self-defense.
The Woman’s Missionary union of
the Eastern Baptist association, met
today in annual session with Bear
Marsh church, six miles frdm here, in
Duplin county, for a two-day session.
Miss Macy Cox, of Magnolia, is presi
dent and leader of the union, under
whose guidance the union does a won
derful work, in the woman’s sphere of
religious activities. Quite a large at
tendance of delegates and visitors is
expected, and gratifying reports of the
past year’s work is anticipated.
Rev. Harry Smith, of Wilmington, to
night closed a 10-day revival meeting
in the Methodist church here. Mr.
Smith is a quiet, conservative speaker,
with much depth and originality of
thought, and has brought to the local
congregation interesting and instruct
ive messages, the influence of which is
expected to live and bear much fruit
hereafter.
GLARING LIGHTS ON
APPROACHING AUTO
CAUSE TRAGIC DEATH
Jim Ellerbee, With Three Chad
bourn Negroes, Dashes Into
, Truck in Road ~ .
(Special to The Star)
WHITEVILLE, Auer. 22.—A fatal, ac
cident occurred very early yesterday
morning on the turnpike leading into
town, when a Ford car containing four
negroes ran into a truck standing still
■with the result that the car was
completely demolished, the driver was
killed almost instantly and the other
occupants, were severely hurt.
The truck, which was loaded with
lumber, had broken down and was left
for the niifht standing at the side of
the road. The occupants of the car
claim that the headlights of a car ap
proaching them blinded them so that
they did not see the truck until they
crashed into the rearofit .
Physician grvd other people were
sopn at the scene of the accident, but
the driver, whose name hvas Jim Eller
bee, had received a fatal cut severing
the Jugular vein, and bled to death
before help could, reach him. The men
were all from Chadbourn.
WALL OF WATER FROM
BROKEN DAMN ON WAY
THREATENS BIG TOWNS
Arkansas River at Full Bank, in
Flood’s Path and May
Rampage
PUEBLO, Colo,, Aug. 22.—Heavy
rains last night raised the water and
formed a lake five miles back of the
river from the Fowler dam, which is
half a mile wide.
The entire dam went out this after
noon and a wall of water is descending
on Olney Springs, Manzanola Rocky
Ford and Lajunta, Colo.
The Arkansas river, into which this
water will empty, already is bank full
and fears are felt for the safety of the
towns in the flood's path. Residents
in all the lowlands are moving to
higher ground.
Governors to be Called
To Devise Means to Keep
States Hot Without
GIDDY-YAP!
| President Coolidge as he took his
first presidential canter astride Gen
eral, his personal mount.
COTTON MILL HEAD
OF GHERRYVILLE IS
GUEST OF COOLIDGE
John J. George Named Him for
President at Chicago in
1919
By H. E. C. BRYANT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.—John J.
George, of Cherryville, president of the
Vivian Cotton Mills, c.alled on Presi
dent Coolidge to pay his respects today.
Marion Butler accompanied him.
Mr. George was a delegate to the Re
publican convention at Chicago that
nominated Harding, and Mr. Butler said
tonight, was the one North Carolina
delegate who voted for Coolidge to re
ceive the presidential nomination.
Both voted to name Coolidge for vice
president.
MEANS’ WHEREABOUTS
KNOWN TO OFFICERS
His Alleged “Shakedown” of
Liquor Violators Not Punish
able, ’Tis Said
BY. H. E. C. BRYANT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.—Gaston B.
Means, according to his friends, now
is in easy reach of the department of
justice, but there is no danger of his
arrest for his alleged "shaking down
of liquor manipulators.”
A great flurry was made about Mr.
Means' little game at the time it was
discovered, but now it is asserted there
is no law under which he can be
reached.
Many people assert that what he did
was a joke on the liquor people who
were ready to join with him in an il
legal transfer.
The prediction was made today that
Mr. Means would never be convicted
of any wrong doing although it is
said he rounded up several hundred
thousand dollars.
EDISON INDISPOSED AT
FORD’S MICHIGAN CAMP;
RUMOR OFDEA TH DENIED
Suffered Slight Injury to Finger
and is Not Feeling Well,
He Says
FORMAL STATEMENT
SCOUTS SICKNESS
ISHPEMING, Mich., Aug. 22.—Ru
mors concerning the health of Thomas
A. Edison caused considerable com
motion in the Michigan upper penin
sular this afternoon. Meanwhile the
inventor who with his wife, Henry
Ford and Mrs. Ford, Harvey Firestone
and Mrs. Firestone, has been' camping
near here for several days, was retir
ing quietly in camp—"a little indtspos
ed but not ill”—according to Mr. Ford's
manager. It was understood Mr. Edi
son had suffered a slight injury to one
finger.
Mr. Ford and Mrs. Firestone were
said to have gone for a hike through
the woods this afternoon. The reports
concerning Mr. Edison are believed
to have grown out of news sent out
last night that he was not feeling well
and had been sticking close to the
caravan during the peninsular trip.
E. G. Kingsford, manager of the Ford
properties In upper Michigan, to quiet
rumors which finally grew to the point
of stating that Mr. Edison had died
of apoplexy, issued a formal statement
this afternoon that the inventor was
not ill. Mr. Kingsford indicated that
his chief condition simply did not feel
well and therefore had remained in
camp
Expecting Strike Washington •
Prepares Plans for Distribu
tion and Regulation
SUBSTITUTE FUELS
WILL BE ADVOCATED
Surplus Crude Oil Supplies Will
be Recommended to Meet ,
Emergencies
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.—Perfection
of a system of distribution designed to
insure an adequate supply of substb*j' 3
tute fuel will be the first object of th%
government in case of stoppage of pro’
duction In the anthracite fields.
The initial step to this end was taker
today when F. R. Wadleigh, the fecpj
eral fuel distributor, invited governors
of anthracite-consuming states to send
representatives to a meeting at New
York August 28, to assist in formulat
ing an emergency distribution system.
The telegram which went tft the execu
tives of the 11 states forming the New
England and middle Atlantic tier, to
and Including Maryland, was dispatched
after a conference between President
Coolidge, Acting Chairman Achison, of
the Interstate Commerce commission, - ■ <
and Mr. Wadleigh "at the white house.'
It was sa^Pthat the Interstate Com
merce commission and traffic depart
ment of the principal eastern railroads
would be represented at the New York
meeting in orijer that any plan adopted
might be worked out to the last de
tail. . . ’ \-m
Distribution Agencies Planned
A tentative plan for the institution
of central distributing agencies In each
state with supervisory headquarters in
Washington to insure priority of trans
portation, has been worked out by Mr >
Wadlefgh and will be laid before the
conference.
Announcing the call to the govern- <
ors, Mr. Wadleigh said, “In order to
discuss and formulate plans for the
distribution of bituminods coal and
coke for domestic consumption in the
principal anthracite-consuming states
in the event of a stoppage of work at
the anthracite mines on September 1,
the governors of the states Interested
will be requested to send representa
tives to attend a conference at New
York city on August 28, 1928. f|
Governors to Gather
“It is hoped that^every state will be.
represented so that full discussion may
be had and definite action taken in
order to insure the distribution to the
respective states of sufficient amounts
of coal and coke to the end that the
public may suer no inconveniences, ow
ing to a lack of fuel for heating*
homes, offices, etc.
Representatives of the railways in-*
terested will probably be asked to atA i
tend the conference and a represents
tlve of the Interstate Commerce com-*
mission will be present as the whole
matter of fuel distribution is largely
one of adequate transportation.
“An Important subject to be dis- g
cussed will be the matter of educa
tion of the consumer in the use of
fuels other than anthracites, as it Is
felt that a systematic plan of public
Instruction can be made of great serv- ,
ice in the practical and efficient use
of such fuels and will thereby reduce '
the actual cost of heating, with re- ,
sultant savings to the individual con
sumer and the community.”
Education to" Stop Waste
Inclusion of the “educational plank"
in the conference platform is in line
with the tentative policy understood
to have been adopted by the adminis- ‘
tration as soon as the controversy be
tween anthracite miners and operators
became critical. This was to use every
friendly means to secure mediation on
the points at issue, but to bring to the
attention of the disputants the danger
of permanent injury to their basic mar- '
kets growing out of any extended tie
up of production.
A record surplus of crude oil sup
plies is believed by government of
ficials to offer a substantial support to '
the reserve of substitute fuel available /
for use in an emergency. It was said '
officially that the commerce depart- m
ment had been informed that an un- >
usual number of inquiries as to the/i
adaptability of oil for economical heat/, ,
ing of dwellings had been addressed-'
to commercial firms, dealing in appll- -i
ances for this purpose.
Intervention Last Resort i
There were indications from various'
government branches today that the
administration had no Immediate in- |
tention of Intervening in the Situation
existing between anthracite miners and
operators. However, at the white house
the coal commission and other braftcheg.
directly interested in the national fuel?,
supply, the impression was given that .
hope of further negotiations had no|*
been entirely dispelled. In the eve
neither side offers a compromise su
gestion, the government was said to :
determined to be ready to protect t
public needs, both as to lndivldual(i
and industry. :71_.
A survey of| the situation, made by a
government bkireau with this policy In
mind, was said to show a reserve of |
50,000,000 to 55,000,000 tons of bitumi-vJ
nous and 23,000,000 to 25,000,000 tons of
anthracite on hand which could be ra-fi
tioned out through an emergency or- - &
ganization. •
With ndrmal consumption of hard
coal averaging 2,000,000 tons ;v week,
no fuel shortage was foreseen by gov
ernment experts, even should a tie-up
of anthracite production continue until|
next spring. Recent increase produc
tion of soft coal grades was taken a*
an additional factor in support of the
administration’s assurance to the pub- ’:
lie.
WEATHER _FPRECA9T BY STA1
Virginia: Fair and rising tempera
tures Thursday and Friday.
North Carolina: Showers Thurs
copier in east and*south; Friday clou
South Carolina. Georgia, Alaban
,and Missisippl; Local thunder shOwe
Thursday and probably Friday, not
quite as warm Friday.