New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-22
CITY IS WARNED
OF COAL FAMINE
Storm Would Cut Off Fuel,
Say Realty Men, Ask
ing Relief

II heavy snowfall should visit New
York the already seanty supply of coal
would give out and actual suffering
would come to thousands is the belief
Of members Of the Real Estate Board
2i7 Broadway. The board has ad-
dressed letters TO Governor Whitman,
Mayor Mitchell. Controller Prendergast
and President Bowling of the Board OF
Aldermen. urging that something be
done Immediately TO relieve the sltua-
ton.
II was ~ the request Of the Real
Estate Board that the present federai
inquiry into the local coal shortage
WIS Instituted The evils Of insuf-
iicient supply and unduly high cost OF
fuel have been seriously aggravated
even during the course Of the Federal
investigation. the board declared IN a
statement experimenting it's letter
comics OF which have been sent 10 the
Federal Trade Commission. the Inter.
state Commerce Commission and all
tho Senators and Representatives OF
New York State. The communication
follows:
"The Real Estate Board Of New
York. which last spring requested an
investigation on the coal situation
an investigation now in progress-de-
sires TO call your attention 70 the very
grave situation existing IN this city
because Of tho startling shortage OF
the supply Of coal available to con-
sumers
See Peril to Many
should this condition not he re
lcved and should any one Of number
OF possible cataStrophes occur, as io'
instance, a serious interruption tt
street traffic through heavy snowfall
the actual suffering through lack o.
heat. light and power. due 90 shortage
of coal. would not alone entail suffer
ing but would threaten the health o
the community
we arc aware Of the progress o
tho investigation by the Federal TRADE
Commission: also that the reason
assigned for the coal shortage are con
gestion on railroads and az terminals
shortage of cars and scarcity of labor
At the same time IT appears TO be
fact that there is a large quantity o.
coal on track about the Jersey CITY
terminals.
while this board is not i'm posi-
ton 10 20 into the validity OF the rea
sons assigned for the failure 20 dehve
coal 20 New York City, IL desires mos
COMPATIBILITY TO urge that this phas
of the matter interruption nm the De
livery Of coail he given your mos
serious consideration. with view e
impressing upon the railroads the I'm
mediate necessity Of giving preference
TO coal deliveries over other common
ties not for the moment 50 essenta
for the convenience, health and saiet
Of New York City.
"a similar request rs being sent =
local and Federal authorities and mem
bcrs Of Congress
Denial by Coal Men
Coal dealers last night were doubt
~ full whether the officials addressed b
III the Real Estate Board could do any
. thing 10 remedy the coal shortage
n Tho situation, owing 20 recent mil
weather. was not serious, they SAT-
If heavy snow should come there Nigh
he some difficulty in delivery, but In
idea that unusual suffering would az
crue was ar-fetched, they agreed
There's no coal situation m Ne
York any more" said the president {
one Of tho largest retail coal distrlbl
ters "The mild winter has helped II
public and now the coal supply
gradually improving. Chicago ma
have something TO kick about, but Ne
York folks are lucky 10 have as muC
coal as they have at the prices th'
pay