New-York tribune., 1917-12-29
Heavy Cut in
City's Coal
Is Ordered
Fuel Supply Diminishing
as Zero Weather
Threatens

conferred all day yesterday and agreed
upon further drastic measures to CON
serve the city's diminishing fuel sup
plies.
Allotments Of coal TO each of the
city's boroughs will be reduced next
week. and the streets, if necessary VIII
be darkened.
The weekly allowance Of coal for The
Bronx will be cut from 1900 tons to
$500 for domestic use.
Manhattan next week will receive
only 5000 tons; this week it was al
: lowed 1900.
Queens received 100 tons last week;
its next weeks rations will be 900
IONS.
Every Borough Short
Members of the Fuel Administration,
the Fuel Conservation Committee and
representatives Of coal dealers held
session during the morning, at which
facts Of the fuel supply were carefully
weighed, showing that every borough
in the city was short of coal by sew
eraI thousand tons. There was no way
open to solve the problem except to
cut down the weekly allowances of
each borough and distribute the supply
in small consignments.
In the afternoon representatives OF
the public service corporations, fur
nishing heat, light and power to the
city, met with representatives of the
Fuel Conservation Committee aud de-
termined to cut down coal consumption
to the barest possible needs.
1t was determined TO cut down illu-
minaton TO a minimum, making Broad
way darker than it has ever been since
electric lights first flashed on that
thoroughfare. Not an electric adver-
tisement or sign or hall light will be
allowed to burn if it will mean suffer
ing to a single person IN the city.
This was happening yesterday while
the thermometer took it's downward
plunge. The Weather Bureau last night
predicted that the thermometer to-day
would drop to nearly zero.
No Fuel Reserve
Although yesterdays coal receipts
were sufficient for all needy cases,
there was no attempt by the fuel au-
thorities to minimize the gravity of
the situation. There Is literally no
fuel reserve. and less coal will be dis
tributed in the near future than in the
past. To-day or tomorrow practically
no coal will be received at tidewater
terminals in New Jersey.
The fuel shippers knocked of work
Christmas Day, no coal being loaded
on cars at the mines, and this blank
spot in the fuel transportation is NOV
ing eastward. The freight shipments
will cease for one day soon, it is said.
At yesterdays conference it was de-
cided that the cellar coal dealers will
be made preferred customers to the ex-
tent of 5000 tons dairy from now on.
Thus the man who buys his coal by the
bucket or sack will not be without fuel.
Weekly Allowances Cut
In the absence of Reeve Schley, New
York County fuel administrator, who is
i'll, Frederick +. Gunnison, fuel admin
istrator for Brooklyn, presided at the
Joint conference The coal men were
represented by Thomas Dickson, Frank
Oberrender, Daniel Anthony, +. 7.
Lewis and Harry 7. Peters. chairman
of the conservation committee of the
fuel administration.
Mr.. Peters announced that rail ship
ments are improving. but that the
Christmas holidays had caused seri-
Gus hold-up in production at the mines,
which would soon be felt here.
the conference agreed there was no
remedy possible under the present cir
cumstances except conservation carried
TO the extreme. In the afternoon sew
eral members of the conservation COM
mittee met representatives of the pub
lie service corporations in the office Of
State Fuel Administrator Albert II.
Wggn. Gl Broadway.
Those attending were Louis B. Cav
try, Vlce-prcsident OF the CONSOLIDATED
Gas Company; Nicholas F. Brady, pres
ident of the Edison Electric Light and
Power Company; F. V. Smith, president
of the United Electric Light and Power
Company, and Charles A. Gillian, pres
ident OF the New York Steam and
Power Company.
They formed themselves into a COM
nittee on conservation, and will report
20 the Fuel Conservation Committee
next Monday afternoon on where fuel
economy may be practised. 9.
Expect Companies TO Use Less
Mr. Wiggin said he believed the pub
lie service corporations would be able
10 help out a great deal in cutting down
coal consumption in their plants.
In spite Of the seriousness OF the
coal situation, not more than dozen
sppealed for fuel at the branch once
Of the County Fuel Administrators, in
the University Settlement. Rivington
and Eldridge streets, Yesterday. u u,
stanton. Jr.. in charge OF the office, said
the demands had ceased suddenly for
some unknown reason. lie declared
that every needy applicant thus far had
been supplied.