New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Transportation Facilities
Break; Only 10000
Tons Arrive
Hundreds of Cars
Tied Up in Jersey
Small Dealers Accused of
Hoarding; Schley Be-
gins Inquiry


the coal situation New York City suf-
fercd q setback yesterday
The transportation machinery which
distributes coal from Jersey tdewatc'
terminals to :hc piers along the water
.rou, Of Ncw IoIA Jammcd struc,
.rces and behaved so badly that only
10000 tons 1000 tons less than the
daily supply OF the last three day
could be moved from the jersey rail-
road terminals 90 New York. exclusive
OF Richmond. County Fuel Administra-
tor Reeve Schley admitted it was bad
day. and that only the mildness OF the
weather saved the city from suffering.
What makes ttc outlook bad for the
future is shat railroad equipment is
being tied up. Nh Schley estimated
that there are 100000 tons OF coal in
cars at the jersey terminals. This
means that about 800 railroad cars are
living idle across the North River, pill
Inc up dcmuuagc charges which the
consumer viii eventually have to pay.
Plenty Of Coal at Tidcwater
With plenty of coal al t.dewater
\cv York City would bc freezing .
fIis were freezing weather As lt was,
there were fewer complaints received
40 the fuel administrator Office yes
terdav than any day since the blizzard.
Moreover small dealers are being sup
piled with their quota Of 22.OOO tons
a week, thus taking care Of the poor
est classes.
The nsistcnt demands Of the small
dealers aroused the suspicion Of Ad-
miristrator Schley Yesterday. and 10
ordered "a thorough investigation ol
their business The first step Of the
probe Welded evidence indicating that
no less than Gftecn Of the small deal
crs arc boarding The accused deal
crs showed Mr. Schlcy's men clean
swept cellars. but their patrons de-
ciared that they had moved into new
quarters within periods ranging from
two days 20 two weeks. leaving their
former places of business packed witt
coal TO be held for tho next cold spell
Mr.. Schlcy said that offenders would
he punished according 20 the full cN-
tent OF his powcr.
Frozen Coal and Labor Shortage
Frozen coal and labor shortage are
the principal reasons advanced by Mr..
Schley for tho slowuess in transporta-
ton from the jersey terminals TO the
New York piers. The coal has 10 be
steamed ont 20 be dumped into barges
or smashed un by men with pickaXes.
Nr. Schlcy said the force OF laborers
a. tho railroad yards was growing. but
not fast enough. There arc plenty OF
bsrgcs. he said.
I'm addition 70 tho 10000 tons
brought in yesterday by barges, Queens
and Kings received quite "A number or
carloads, liChtcrcd across the bay and
Transported by rail 10 Long Island
poiuts. According 10 Fuel Admnistra-
tor Gunuison Of Brooklyn, that bor-
ouch received only 300 tons by
barccs. while Deputy Fuel Admins
traitor James IT. Hall OF The Bronx said
that 1000 tons was received there
Burns Brothers reported that they
could deliver from 5000 TO 10000 tons
daily n they could get that much.
Nr. Sohloy said that he expected 10
a dav or two 10 announce the profit
margin. to be fixed by thc fuel admin
..tratiou. thus practically establishing
control over prices. lio said he was
especially pleased az the action Of the
hoard OF Aldermen iu passing an ordl-
nance demanding that coal bc sold by
weight, not by measure.
Price Of Oil Advances
The coal shortage has resulted in
raid ON the oil .tovc and gas radiator
markets 40 sooner had oil stoves
come into use. however. than the Stand
ard OIL Company raised the price Of
kerosene. the ordinary grade Of which
is now l2 cents gallon. I'm the Office
of "Thc OH Trade Journal DO was pre-
dictcd that kerosene would soon catch
gp with Cdsolcnc in price.
The sparse fuel supply has further
caused the Board Of Education 70 dis
continue those Of its public lectures
which arc held in buildiugs requiring
extra heat for their autditoriums. As
soon as tho present scarcity is over the
lectures viii be resumed.
Edwin J.. Cullen. Of tho Cullen Tow
ing Company. coutradicted Mr. Schlcy's
statement that there were enough
bargcs 90 handle the coal He said he
mad written TO the fuel administration
proposing that the government build
S5.000,000 worth of coal barCes and
tugs which, he said. his company would
handle without profit for the benefit Of
the public. lie asserted that he could
haul 100000 tons OF freight in
year with such equipment.
Attorney Benjamin A. Hartstein. Of
2A9 broadway, Yesterday appealed 70
the fuel administration TO cut IN half
the profits OF the cellar dealers lie
ssid these merchants arc now making
profit Of from IS 20 SO ton. sold
ln small lots.
There were forty-three deaths due to
pneumonia reported by the Department
Of Health for the twenty four hours
ended az noon yesterday. The depart
moni figures show that la persons
have died from this disease since Sat