New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Intense Suffering Predicted
if Cold Spell Lasts a
Few Days
Thousands of Tons
Now at Tidewater
Reserve in Non-Essential
Plants May Be Seized;
None Left in Bronx

New York City and state fuel add
ministrators, after comparison Of the
weather reports and coal supply figures
yesterday. concluded that il the cold
wave lasts for more than two or three
days thousands in the city will expert
cuce intense suffering.
The estimates Of fuel experts agreed
that there is less coal in the city al
the present time than at any time this
winter. or any other winter. for that
matter. During the day John II. Whit
ley, Of the Fuel Conservation Com
mittee, made a tour Of inspection Of
the Jersey tidewater terminals, and
reported a good supply piled up there.
The coal is frozen, however, causing
delay In dumping, while the railroads
complain they have been unable 10 Sc
cure enough labor % load the fuel on
bhrges in sufficient quantities TO meet
the need Of the city.
Coal receipts in greater New York
for the last three weeks have amounted
10 about 70 per cent Of normal con-
SUMPTION, while thousands Of house
holders and apartment building owners.
who stocked up last spring and sum-
mer, have now exhausted their reserves
and have joined the great army clamor-
ing for fuel.
Appeals TO Washington
State Fuel Administrator Albert II.
Wiegin appealed 20 the Priority Board
in Washington for greater shipments
20 New York City. explaining that the
situation here was Extremely serious"
and required immediate attention.
Several Of the large coal dealers said
their yards were swept clean, and that
they might as well close their Offices.
Others, who had coal. found distrbu-
ton extremely difficult yesterday on
account of the streets, covered with
snow and ice.
That the shortage Of Situminous
coal was even more serious than that
of anthracite was indicated in a dis
patch from Washington stating that
National Fuel Administrator Harry
A. Garfield had sent an urgent request
90 a. W. Thompson, chairman ot the
Operating Committee Of the Eastern
Railroads. TO rush bunker coal 20 the
Ncw York waterfront, where many yes
sci, are being delayed because OF coal
shortage. Mr.. Thompson wired Dr.
Garfield that about 800 carloads had
been loaded on boats Friday at South
Amboy, and this supply was now avail
able. while 500 more carloads were be-
ing rushed from the Pennsylvania mine
folds 10 relieve the shortage in New
York City harbor
T.. H.. Malone acting County Fuel
Administrator. said that six out OF
thirteen big coal dealers reported hav-
ING received $4,000 tons OF anthracite
Yesterday. about 90 per cent Of what
Tho city consumes in day.
Mr.. Malone said 10 was only fair TO
assume that some OF the other dealers,
who had not reported, received some
coal. swelling the days total receipts
20 something more than 10000 tons.
lie said that three OF the railroad
companies shipping coal 70 the city
had. pledged themselves 10 work con-
tinuous shifts of laborers at tidewater
points unloading the coal into barges
for tho city. Every bit Of coal now
coming I'm, he said, was frozen, caus-
ing further delay IN dumping.
Labor Shortage Serious
Tho railroad companies reported
that their apparatus for steamng fro
zen coal had been put IN order since
the last cold wave, so that no such
delay as was then experienced would
take place now. The railroads COM
planned, however, of labor shortage
and the fact that most Of the men en-
ploycd at the terminals were unused
20 the work
The most serious aspect Of the coal
shortage that developed during the day
was that thousands OF applications for
fuel came in from househOlders and
apartment building owners, who had
Gcmained aloof because they had a re-
serve from last summer and spring,
vhen they bought I'm large quantities.
his means that the reserve supplies
of individual citizens are fast dimin-
ishing, while there is no reserve in
the yards Of retail or wholesale deal
crs. In other words, the domestic re-
serves are getting lower. the daily de-
mands increasing, while the receipts
are way below normal.
Cyrus c. Miller, fuel administrator
Tor The Bronx, said there were less
than 1000 tons IN the borough, scat
tered among twenty-five coal yards.
Otis /. Williams, fuel administrator
OF Richmond, aided by dozen Boy
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