New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-19
Large Quantities Near City,
Says Investigator for
DR.. Moscowitz
Poor Suffer Most
From High Prices
City Is Warned 1t May
Have to Sell Fuel to
the Needy

r.
Of Public Markets. sent yesterday to
each Of the fuel administrators in New
York City a copy OF the report of F. Y.
A. Purcell. acting director Of the CEN
trial purchase committee. Mr.. Purcell
has been trying, at DR.. Moskowitz's
direction. to determine whether the
Goa. sUr-'y in the city was sufficient to
meet legitimate demands and whether
the city would be justified in purchas-
irc coal for sale 20 small consumers.
lie found that:
Although there is al unlcuiabie
coal shortage in New York City. there
is no real danger ~ an impending
famine II c-isN should arrive,
there are large quantities near the
city. which can be brought in on
short notice.
Dealers for the most part are not
exceeding their reasonable profits in
ire prices they ask. The chief suf-
fere- from the present shortage is
the small consumer, who buys from
the cellar dealers, who buys from the
retail who buys from the whole
sa,er. The small consumer the.- lore
a. 70 pay the profits of all these
men.
TO protect him the city ought ~
launch a campaign 10 teach the sn/
pure aser to buy direct from the coal
yards. II the larger coal dealers
will not sell coal in 80 ard 100 round
lots the city should take charge and
sell 70 its poorer citizens at 8 rea-
sonable price
All Dealers Are Short
At present, Mr.. Purcell says in his
report, all dealers in the city are hard
up for coal They have, they say. only
a small fraction Of their normal supply,
and attribute the shortage-which con-
tinues 70 exist in spite of the increase
in the amount mined this year-to the
upspringing of hundreds of new coal
burning factories and to boarding by
consumers. Dealers estimated that
about 5000 tons day would be neces-
ssry 70 carry the city through the win
ter.
Mr.. Purcell then consulted Z. B. Cor
don, coal expert, who said that there
we're sufficient stores near New York
20 keep the city warm.
These" the report says, "can be
brought into New York on short notice,
and In addition arrangements have been
made with the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western and the Lehigh Valley 70 d.
vert coal into New York in the event
Of cold spell. Mr.. Gordon does not
feel that there is any cause for alarm
as 70 the suficiency of the supply"
Coal at the yards now costs, Mr.. Pur-
cell says, 1915 ton. The same coal
delivered 20 the small dealer costs $3.50
a ton. When this same man delivers
the coal in fifty or one hundred pound
bags 70 the small consumer he is forced
TO charge about S12 a ton in order to
reap legitimate profit.
Problem in the City
In these prices, Mr.. Purcell believes,
lies the problem which the city must
solve-the increased cost Of coal to the
small purchaser, who is forced 70 pay
the yard prices plus transportation and
Profit.
The report points out that the cellar
dealer in charging s12 q ton is wholly
within his rights and is not asking ex-
orbitant prices. Last year some OF the
cellar dealers were demanding go
ton.
"The city's threat TO sell coal to the
small consumer appeared 70 be SUI
fcient 20 produce the desired result,
the report continues.
From what I have seen, l am con
WINGED that the organization OF your
bureau and the expressed intention TO
provide in some manner for the small
consumer has already had marked in
fuence"
Mr.. Purcell points out, however, that
II we start in the yard Of the retailer.
where coal is worth S8.75 ton, we then
End that the small purchaser must pay
70 the cellar dealer 81 per cent in add
ton for distribution costs, even when
the cellar dealer only demands rea-
sonabie profit"
The best solution TO this profit is, he
believes. the elimination OF the cellar
dealer and the education OF the small
consumer 30 that he may realize that
he may 20 70 the coal yard with wagon
or baby carriage and by purchasing
There and carrying home MS coal save
1925 ton.
Suggestions for Relief
ct IL obvious," the report says, that
the best purchase for the consumer,
but one involving some trouble on ms
part is the purchase made at the coaI
yard gate a. 1915 ton. The objection
10 tn.s plan is that 20 purchase coal IN
this manner q trip 70 the yard with
some small conveyance Is necessary.
Because Of the present location Of coal
yards the trip AZ present would require
distant consumers 70 walk two or three
miles. a. consideration which becomes
iroportant in inclement weather.
To solve this difficulty Mr. Purcell
believes the city should intervene. He
therefore makes FIVE recommendations
whereby New York can Tighten the
present burden % coal prices for It's
citizens.
First-He suggests the city cooperate
with the fuel administration IN wash
irgton, 90 the yards here may be as
fured Of continual supply Of coal and
dealers be forced % set aside certain
amount each day for the small con
fgmer.
geeond-All coal dealers must be en-
outraged 20 deliver coal in bag lots 70
cuftomsrr.
Third-Where there are not su'heient
coal yards IN a district the city must
erect temporary yards where sales may
be made 20 customers In bag lots.
Yourth-Assoeistion Of coal dealers
must be asked 20 cooperate IN the plan;
Rifth-H the measures suggested
above are not productive OF the desired
rssults the city must then prepare 20
purchase coal, 20 be delivered In barges
and sold % tanll consumer. from
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