Inadequate Fireplaces and Costly Fuel May Mean Cold Rooms During Break

Students staying in their rooms during Christmas vacation cannot expect to keep warm easily or inexpensively by lighting fires, because of recent rises in wood prices and inadequate fireplaces in the Houses.

A cord of wood that sold for $40 to $50 in the Boston area in September is now selling at an average of $85 and as high as $125 per cord. At approximately 1000 two-foot logs to a cord, one log costs between 8 and 10 cents.

Cool Fireplaces

The fireplaces in the Houses were originally installed to enhance the architecture. Paul Rouillard, manager of the Central Services Department of Buildings and Grounds said yesterday the fireplaces were designed for comfort. If necessary, the fireplaces were to be used only as a secondary source of heat for students, Rouillard said. A fireplace can effectively radiate heat to only one room.

$85 a Cord

Two local dealers are still selling wood at $85 per cord: T-B Wood Co. and an unnamed service advertising "choice hardwoods". The "choice hardwoods" service also sells half cords for $45 and a "trunkload" of approximately 125 two-foot length logs at $15 with the cost of delivery and stacking included.

So far, only Lowell House has established a firewood service for the students in the House. The Lowell House Committee buys wood by the cord from dealers in the Concord area and distributes it to students for about $1.50 per "armload."