New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-24
Plans Direct Sale of
Coal and Opening of
Storage Plants
GARBAGE CARTS
MAY CARRY FUEL
Inquiry Proposed to Drive
Large Stocks of Food
Upon the Market

pei the opening of cold storage plants
and the placing of at least part OF
their treasured provisions on the mar
ket and the completion of Mayor Nit
chefs plan to fight exorbintant coal
prices by selling fuel direct to the
consumer offered two rays of hope in
the campaign against the high cost of
living yesterday.
Should present high prices OF coal
and food continue, these measures, the
city's experts believe, will offer imme-
date relief to New Workers. The
Mayor has completed the machinery
under which he proposes to collect
and distribute coal, if necessary. so
that the plan could go into effect
within forty-eight hours. The cold
storage proposal, although less def
mite, is looked upon as almost equally
promising.
Meanwhile, other city, county and
borough officials entered the campaign
against high prices with offers of aid
that ranged from sending guilty food
spectators to jail to reorganizing the
city's old market system and permit
ting small dealers to use booths free,
il need be.
Several Meetings Scheduled
Half a dozen meetings have been
scheduled for the next few days. and
the leaders in the movement an
nounced their conviction that the
promise of drastic action would re-
suit in forcing food commodities down
to something approaching normal
prices within forty-eight hours.
Mayor Mitchel's plan for providing
coal at reasonable price in the city's
tenement districts came after con-
ference with coal producers and deal
ers. who agreed to furnish the fuel
with which to carry out the project.
An offer of sufficient cash to place the
first supply at the disposal of the city
came from members OF the Mayors
Food and Market Commission, thus re-
moving every obstacle from the course
suggested few days ago.
The city's programme is based upon
the simple scheme of having the mu-
nicipal dump wagons, that carry ashes
and garbage from tenement houses,
return with the necessary coal to heat
them. Since the wagons empty their
refuse near the very spots on the river
banks where coal is delivered. and,
under normal times, return empty, 1t
/. thought that little extra energy or
time will be necessary. The coal, 1t
is proposed, will be taken on the re-
turn trip and delivered to the con-
sumers who to-day purchase fuel by
the basket from cellar dealers.
ONLY in Case of High Prices
"Of course, this plan will be carried
out only if high prices continue" the
Mayor explained. 1--WE have no desire
70 nut the city in the coal business
unless the small dealers or specu-
lators force US to-"
Mayor Mitchell issuel this statement
explaining his plan:
"For some time, through Mr.. Wall
stein. Commissioner Of Accounts; MIR.
Hartiean. Commissioner Of Weights
and. Measures; Commissioner Woods
and other departments, | have been
making an investigation of the exorbi-
,ant price of coal to the small con-
sumcr. As result, E! have reached
the conclusion that some dealers in
the city have taken advantage Of an
apparent shortage in the supply of coal
and have boosted the price, especially
20 those people who buy it by the
oucketful.
"I have been in personal conference
with a number OF the producers OF coal
and with some of the larger dealers IN
this city. | have said to these men
that with increasing cost Of foodstuhs 5
the increase in cost of coal will be an
added burden that will be intoleraoie,
and [ propose to do everything in my
power to prevent II.
Has Asked Producers TO Aid
r have asked the producers and
these large dealers 70 do everything
they possibly can Immediately 10 IN
crease the supply Of coal TO this city,
and they have very promptly agree
20 do ali in their power to relieve the
sit.ation. This should in itself reduce
the cost Of coal 20 the small consumer,
hut il il does not, or IL with colder
weather the price is raised to exorbi-
tant levels. | have arranged to pursue
the following course:
"Through the Mayors Food Supply
Committee | have received an offer Of
whatever financial aid is necessary %
buy through a committee OF citizens
a large supply Of coal. The producers
OF coal have agreed with me to
furnish such a supply. This coal will
be delivered 10 different points in the
ciAy. and from there delivered by the
wagons Of the Street Cleaning Depart
rent to those who use il in small
quantities and sold TO them at nor
nal prices.
"If any profit should result from
the transaction it would not 90 to pri-
yate individuals, but would either be
used by the Food Supply Committee
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