The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-29
PRICE TWO CENTS.
new ENGLAND CRIES FOR COAL
TRAM SERVICE NAY M CUT iF
Supplies DON'T IMPROVE.
n tina, Is Done. Freight Rates VIII In.
crease aud the Cost Of Supplies WIN
Go 70 Factories In the SAme Plight
Hut the Miners Don't Seem 10 Care.


GO 70 Factories In the same Plight
Hut the Miners Danr Seem 10 care.
New England is facing an acute stage OF
the coal stringency, and it has become
apparent within few days that curtai'-
ing of train schedules Oh the New England
railroads in the near future is all but inev-
liable. The operation Of factories In that
section will be Affected by the same causes
that reduce the train service, according
10 reports in wcll-informed quarters
among the coal interests. Up 10 date. how
ever, only two factories are recorded ~
having been obliged to shut down owing
to lack OF coal.
The New York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad, ramifying throughout southern
New England. is the worst OF Of the New
England roads in the matter OF its coal
supply, notwithstanding that II has been
for some time reaching out for supplies
wherever il has been able 10 find coal. IL
has coal depot al every one of its Long
Island Sound ports, where IL lands coal by
water routes. besides drawing parts Of its
supply from this city, both by rail and water.
BIT although procuring its supply from
all along The coast. wherever coal is 10 be
had Of tideWater, from here TO Norfolk,
II has been able lately TO get barely enough
for its service and has even been forced 10
borrow and commander upon a few occn-
rions. Al present the supply for the New
York division l. drawn largely front New
Haven, whore the soft coal which this road
Uses. now COSTS the company in tn. neigh
borhood Of $40 a ton, or more than three
times the normal price for soft COAL
More than month ago various railroads,
ncluoing the New York. New Haven and
Hartford. took under consideration the
curtaiment Of their train schedules in view
Of the possibility of the coal shortage be-
coming acute. It is said that most Of the
roads in the country which are not -origi
mating roads for coal took this precau-
tionary step.
In the case OF New En- gland roads. and
he Consolidated" or New York. New
Haven and Hartford. particularly. The con.
tingency Of a 50 per cent. reduction in the
train schedules was faced. The railroad
managers cid not consider such a contin-
gency as Immediately impending. but de-
termned 10 be forehanded in case Of such
an emergency as q blockading snow storm
would precipitate.
We have been living. as a railroad, just
the matte Of our coal supply; that ia, from
day TO day. said q man connected with the
New Haven road. while We have had
enough to get along on, any interruption,
such as severe snowstorm would cause
in the transportation Of such supplies a.
we have been getting would cripple our
service somewhat, and to be prepared for
the necessity Of lessening our train mileage
when it should arise the question Of reduced
train schedules was consi dered. a. 1t was
ls.s Atk 4 halt
Personally. I do not think there n like
lihood of such an emergency now, however.
for conditions are better than they were,
even two weeks ago.
1t was said that the New Haven was just
at present able to deliver some coal o0m-
mercially where 1t had been unable to do 30
fort night ago, and that there was now a.
Bridgeport several thousands Of tons OF
coal for commercial purposes. waiting to
be distributed in the Naugatuck Valley,
where a couple of weeks ago there was
scarcely any. The outlook, therefore. was
felt 10 be more hopeful in railroad circles.
But men in q position In know the GOAL
situation were unable to express themselves
that the bad news Of a prospective soft coal
shortage, which would necessitate re-
| duced train mileage on the New England
roads. must he faced.
Tho railroads and mills would not be
| the only interests affected by q lessened
| train mileage. ~ n l.,ssened mileage Of
! freight trains would influence the distri-
| button Of supplies. Maximum passenger
yates are fred 10y law, but an increase OF
! freight rates would naturally he looked for.
| as n result Of fewer trains run OF greater
| cost, should tho reduced train schedules
become general or why're there was NO
, Dispatches printed below from different
New EHgland points indiea that some "
| the New En- gland roads expect to be able
oil .nh 10, hai