New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-29
Fuel Administrator
Asks Priority for
Shipments of
Fuel
Laid Shortage
To Lack of Cars
Retail Dealers in Bronx
and Manhattan Have
Only $4,000
Tons


rOrning in the bins Of dealers just one
GAYS supply of coal. The city has been
running along on a perilously short
margin, and while talk of famine
has been deprecated to avoid throwing
fine public into a panic, dealers for
weeks past have been exerting pressure
on the fuel administration and de-
handing relief.
Only by good fortune, according to
Arthur F. Rice, Commissioner of the
Coal Merchants Association, has acute
famine and widespread suffering been
nverted. The cause is the mild weather
that has prevailed until this week.
Asks Garfield for Relief
A. II. wiggin, New York Fuel Ad-
rinistrator, telegraphed to Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield yesterday that q
shortage here was imminent, unless
the fuel administration takes imme-
date remedial steps. The threatened
shortage is due, according to Mr.. Wig
gin. to the diversion of New York coal
10 other points by the Susquehanna
and Lehigh Valley railroads. These
companies are already short about
100000 tons Of their New York con-
tract requirements, the New York fuel
chief alleges.
In response to Mr.. Virgins plea
Federal Fuel Director Harry A. Gar
field, last night requested Director of
Priority r. S. Lovett 10 instruct the
railroads to give precedence to all coal
and coke as we'll as empty cars for
their transportation.
It was also asked that this arrange
ment be put into action as quickly as
possible. If the railways comply with
the orders at once, it will mean that
the rails TO New York will be practi-
cally clear to incoming fuel, and will
10 doubt avert actual suffering.
Bituminous Supply Short
The National Coal Association is
sued a statement saying that there was
only one weeks supply Of bituminous
coal on hand for the country, and the
nation was threatened with a coal FAM
inc and the consequent hardship on in
dustry. Blame was placed on the
shortage of cars to handle coal at the
mines.
As showing how depleted are the
supplies of dealers, Mr.. Rice gave out
these figures last night, based on can
ysss Of practically every retailer in
Manhattan and The Bronx: Domestic
coal on hand. 10000 tons; steam coal,
1900 tons. Total, 28,000 tons.
These supplies are held by thirty
odd dealers out of fifty-oGd in those
tgo boroughs. The twenty unaccount-
ed have no coal at all In normal
tines during the winter months the
daily distribution OF domestic coal by
retailers is 15,50O tons; of steam sizes,
1900 tons.
Thus the total supply of domestic
sizes on hand this morning is but
five hundred tons more than the aver
age daily distribution. while the sup
py Of steam coal is actually under one
days turnover the past. Conditions
generally paralleling this exist in
ether boroughs.
Local Merchants Protest
The acutenegs of the situation was
explained on Monday and again yes
terday 70 Albert II. Wiggin. state fuel
r administrator, by representatives Of
the Coal Merchants Association. and
i was due TO their protestations that
Immediate relief was sought at Wash
ington.
II is the feeling in the trade that Mr.
Niggin and his assistants have not
until now realized the predicament Of
local dealers and that. although other
loealities have had their coal wants
nlled, New York has waited. They
we're hopeful yesterday that the prom
ises made az Washington would be full
Sled II they are not, they predict
The worst coal famine this city or any
tfher city has ever experienced. aud
more than that. panic.
Coal has been reaching the city
daily; deliveries have been made TO
some customers daily, but, as Mr.. Rice
pointed out yesterday there has never
been enough for dealers TO get ahead
on. Buying hand-to-mouth, they have
n many instances been able 70 keep
abreast Of the demand, but never en-
tirely 20 meet IL, and, meantime, none
has been able 10 build up any reserve.
u il for a small reserve that they arc
elamoring most. The total yard and
aud The Bronx is 100000 tons, and
there is additional room available on
bsrgeE.
No Factories Forced 70 Close
. Dealers yesterday we're checking out
against the slender supply by selling
only 20 regular customers or 70 those
whose wants seemed most acute. 80
far as could be ascertsined, no fac
tories have been forced 70 close for
lack Of fuel
Many consumers were foresighted
enough 10 lay In supplies against Just
tueh an emergency ss ~ nov At hand'
The transit lines, with the use or smoke
consumers, burn btuminous coal, ana
their supplies are adequate. Because
f smoke restrictions New York is an
snthracite-using city, and consequently y
the bituninous shortage as reported IN
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