New-York tribune., 1902-10-07
A COLD WAVE EXPECTED.
BOARD OF HEALTH WILL NOT PREVENT
USING SOFT COAL IN HOMES.

supply anthracite at any price and had great
difficulty in filling orders for bituminous coal
Those dealers who could deliver soft coal were
selling II at SO and Sl2 ton. On all sides the
situation had become alarming
In many parts Of the city the effect OF the
scarcity Of fuel was shown IN the shutting on Of
steam in factories and in stopping diminish
ing the hot water supplies in flats and apart
ment houses. In some of the houses the tenants
We're warned that hot water would be supplied
from the Easements only two days Of the
week In some other houses notice was given
that the hot water would be supplied only part
OF each day
Many people who have been unwilling 20 use
soft coal in their furnaces were driven 20 its
use yesterday. and many who would have been
glad 20 use soft coal found that they could not
get any. There was general surprise and indig-
ration in the city on account Of the sudden
scarcity If soft coal and the tremendous in
crease in the price Of il.
SOFT COAL WAITING AT MINES.
II looked TO many II there had been A con-
spiracy TO shut of from the city supply of
soft coal at a time when II was the only kind
OF coal 10 be obtained al the mines There is an
abundance Of bituminous coal AT the mines
ready for shipment 10 the city The trouble is In
the transportation Of il to tidewater. The soft
coal operators say they can supply all the de-
nand il they can get the cars 10 carry II ana
the locomotives 10 haul the cars.
There thousands of empty coal cars stand
ing idle on the sidings of the anthracite roads
and there is no prospect that they can be used
for long time I'm earring coal from the anthra-
cite mines. Yet prominent dealers said yester-
day that the officials OF those roads could not
be prevailed on 10 relieve the distress in the
city by furnishing the cars and engines for the
transportation or soft coal 70 tidewater. They
said that almost all OF the soft coal for the city
was being brought over the Pennsylvania and
New-Jersey Central tracks. and that many coal
trains were held up along those lines because
OF the lack Of locomotives 10 haul them or be-
cause the companies had too much other freight
traffic 20 handle. The result was that soft coal
could not be bought wholesale yesterday. and
the coal that was sold by retailers went al eN-
orbitant prices.
Another manufacturer OF furnaces, In a talk
with Tribune reporter. about the use of soft
coal in furnaces in private houses. said the
fues in most Of the houses in Manhattan and
Brooklyn were not properly constructed for
the use Of soft coal Nine out Of ten q the
fues were too small They were constructed
FOR the burning Of hard coal and in the use of
soft coal the gas and SCOT accumulated rapidly.
and the furnaces would require frequent clean
ing out. The hues for hard coal were built on
the reVertible hue principle, but Tor hltuInlnous
coal the draft should be larger and the fiue more
direct The trouble in the use Of soft coal IN
furnaces was principally In the chimneys
c. j. Wittenberg. president of the Cleveland
and Ohio Coal and Coke Company No. IL
Broadway. informed a Tribune reporter that.
or account Of the shutting of OF anthracite coal
the soft coal roads were overw helmed with ton
mage. and were unable 20 handle n. Many cars
on the soft coal roads were blocked on account
Of the travel caused by numerous excursions,
encampments and fairs
COLD WAVE PREDICTED.
tions of worse state 20 come There was a
hint Of approaching cold weather. II was pre-
dicted that. following the latest rainstorm.
would come a cold wave AS soon as frost
comes and Il Is bound 10 come soon. there viii
enter into the situation the sufferings Of peo-
pie who cannot get fuel 20 heat their homes.
Several Of the soft coal operators have ap-
pealed TO the railroad companies for trans
portation facilities. II may be that the COM
pauies VIII Yield. in the face Of the inevitable
distress that is threatened. and supply the
engines and cars needed To transport suffi-
cient supply Of soft coal here. one of the
operators said yesterday. We have appealed
To President Cassatt Of the Pennsylvania. tell
ing him that II he can supply the cars We can
get an the soft coal 10 this city that is needed
Unless the facilities are furnished by some Of
the anthracite roads however. there is no pros
pect for Immediate relief. These roads banked
their cars near the mines soon after the strike
began and have been holding them there I'm
the expectation that the strike would end The
anthracite mines have been closed 50 long that
there has been created a shortage Of seventeen
million tons Of coal. The bituminous mines
have been open all summer and have been
worked for all they are worth. There is plenty
OF bituminous coal ready 10 be shipped There
voul5 he biR proNt in selling IN at 81 - a ton
ts.a, ~ AL price haF
not 10 speak Of $40 a ton, to-day's price. but
in existing circumstances il can't be brought
the demand I don't know what viii happen
II the anthracite roads continue 70 play dog
I'm the manger."
the large dealers We have been telephoning
an dav and cannot find any coal for sale whole
sale believe that the only coal available in
tbe civ today is in the hands OF some retail
dealers. who are doling II out 10 favored Gus
toners"
HOW TO Use SOFT COAL
While there is no prospect Of getting anthra-
cite coal from Pennsylvania felds. IL is be
leved that the tremendous profits in soft coal
will cause supplies from the bituminous mines
TO be transported 10 New-Hork, and the Board
OF Health will not interfere with the use OF
sof, coal in furnaces for heating dwelling houses
when no other fuel can be had Manufacturers OF
furnaces said yesterday that u was possible 10
burn soft coal in them without creating much
nuisance. one nrm caused 10 DC prepared lLe
following rules 20 be observed In the use OF
soft coal with the ordinary furnaces;
Fresh Fire-Ignite the fresh IRE in the usual
way with paper and kndling wood Qess OF the lat
teri Use iuTnps about the size of egg for the
FIRST firing After the wood has burned ana the
soft coal is aglow. throw on only enough OF the
mixed humps and fine coal 10 make. not 10 exceed,
one-third OF one-half the depth Of the fire box.
soft coal sWels as A. burns
Dampers and AIR Inlets.-Let only a small amount
OF air in al the bottom OF the range or furnace
open the afr inlet in the upper door, 50 that air
may in the top OF the FIRE This vii ala
20 burn some Of the smoke and should also prevent
a sudden puff of gas from the FIRE. Keep the
damper IN pipe open constantly, and regulate the