New-York tribune., 1916-11-27
Fetherston Appeals to AL
dermen to Remedy
Labor Shortage
URGES USE OF SALT
IN CLEARING STREETS
Asks Ordinance to Make
House Owners Keep
Highways Open

New York City may be showed under
this winter, with little chance OF Dig
ring itself cut unless the Board Of Al
dermen grant the appeal made by Com
missioner j. T. Fetheston Of the De-
partment Of Street Cleaning for legis-
lation 70 relieve the situation caused
by the present shortage Of labor. The
Commissioner said IL would be impos-
sible 70 obtain sufficient help 20 cope
with a real snowstorm.
The Commissioner sent personal
letter to each member Of the Board Of
Aldermen asking their support for
emergency legislation. lie suggested
that the ordinance prohibiting the use
of salt on snow be repealed. The rea-
son for the passage of the ordinance,
some years ago, was that salt caused
injury TO horses feet, Mr.. Fetherston
said that automobiles have practically
replaced horses on many of the city's
main arteries, and, therefore, the OBJ
lection 10 the use Of salt, on such
streets, at least, had been eliminated
Seeks Street-Cleaning Aid
II was also suggested TO the alder
men that something should be done TO
make effective the ordinance requiring
householders 70 remove snow from
Abutting sidewalks. Commissioner
Fetherston asked for the power TO call
upon all owners or occupants Of prop
erty 10 open psssageways for vehicles
through the snow IN front of their re-
spective properties. Ordinances cover
ing those points have been drafted by
the Commissioner for submission 10
the Board Of Aldermen.
Ore passage in Mr. Fetherston's ap-
peal said
SHOULD a hesvy snowfall occur and
life and property be in danger through
the risk of confAgrstion or a shortage
IN food and fuel. the Commissioner Of
Street Cleaning should have the power,
by proclamation or otherwise, TO call
upon all citizens and owners or occu-
pants Of property to open passagewsys
for vehicles in front of abutting prop
erty. reasonable time should be al
lowed before those falling 10 comply
with the proclamation are called 10 &C
count, but II is doubtful if extreme
measures leading 10 fine or imprison-
ment would be necessary, except in
few cases, as every citizen with any re-
gard for public welfare would be glad,
! believe, 10 do small part toward
meeting the emergency"
Fears Big Storm
In his letter to the aldermen. Mr.
Fetherston stated that he would
need $4,000 extra laborers, but he could
use almost three times that number IN
handling a heavy fall.
"As a matter OF fact the plans Of the
department presuppose the registration
Of approximately 10000 emergency
men," said the Commissioner, "only
once since the adoption of the present
methods have we had sufficient men.
That was two years ago, the season VIC
inaugurated the snow-hghting pro-
gramme. In figuring on such a large
force we, of course, have in mind a fall
of snow reaching six or more inches
and storm continuing through the
greater part of an entire day.
"As evidence Of the difficulty we are
having in obtaining the enrolment Of
emergency laborers, take the figures
for the first seven days Of registration
IN each of the three seasons. Two
years ago these figures were 22,250;
last year they were just under 5000,
and this year they are 3,54S.
mot only is 10 impossible 10 obtain
lsborers for emergency snow work, -
continued the Commissioner, "but we
are short Of men on our regular sweep
ing and collecting forces. Our men are
leaving us 10 take other positions at
higher compensation, and we are un-
able TO Gil the vacancies. The civil
service list is exhausted, and although
the commission has employed every
available means it hasn't been possible
10 replenish the list.
Under these conditions. should VIC
be visited by a spell Of severe winter
weather the people OF this city may be
called upon 20 exercise an unusual
amount Of patience. If, however, citi-
7ens will give the department their CO.
operation the discomforting effects Of
the abnormal labor situation will be
materially lessened"