New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Short Rationing Here and
Upstate Reaches Climax;
Poor Fare Badly
Big Fuel Concerns
Accused by Hylan
Are Pro6teering, He Says;
Terminal Conditions
Improve

Empty ooslbins yesterday brought
about limited workIess conservation
period IN New York when numerous
fsc.orics. stores and public institutions
hck Of heat and power with which to
operate
Forecasts OF additional snow for to-
DAY carried threats Of fresh obstacles
to coal delivery and an increase in the
number OF cod furnaces in the city
Lists Of the industries and institutions
ALREADY closed were not forthcoming
last night because they were incom-
plete and because Of the hope, in most
cases, that they might be able to re-
sumo activities within few hours.
For the victims OF the compulsory
dosing period the unofficial shut down
is a more serious blow than the Gar
Geld FIVE day CLOSING order. since there
was no indication last night that they
would find the means of resuming ac-
tivities in the near future. Local ad-
rin;strators admitted that prospects Of
relief never had been moro slender,
while the hand OF the coal famine
stretched far upstate and compelled the
closing Of numerous industries engaged
in war work.
Shortage Reaches Climax
Slightly less than 10000 tons of an
tbracite coal arrived in the city during
the day. or less than half the amount
necessary TO fill the normal require
mcnts for twentyfour hours. The re-
suit Was that the increasing shortage
that has been making itself felt since
the beginning of the short rationing
of the city's industries reached
climax
Telephones in the Offices Of the city
and state Fue' Administrator Offices
at 81 and 60 Broadway. were kept busy
from carly morning until closing hours
IN the evening as vain pleas for fuel
wcrc sent in by institutions that had
been threatened with enforced closing
for weeks Even priority orders were
not filled and apartment houses that
had struggled through the earlier
weeks of the famine were compelled
to remain heatless during the day
great many factories. hospitals
and other institutions already have
been compelled TO close down. said
s. X. Flynn, first deputy state Fuel Adj
complaints from schools, hospitals and
81 hot In
Of enforced shutdown. Their supplies
are exhausted and not enough fuel is
coming in to keep them going after
priority orders have been filled"
One of the first big stores in the
city compelled to close during the day
was Brill Brothers. at a East Four
teenth Street. After several days Of
wavering between chilly business ac-
tvitles and complete shutdown Max
Brill. head of the firm. ordered that
the doors be locked yesterday morning.
ShiYcring clerks were told to 20 LONE
and remain there until fuel was sup
pied by the owners of the building. A
sign was posted upon the door an
nouncing that the store had been closed
because the owner Of the building had
tailed to provide fuel.
Supply Set Aside for Poor
Reports that the poor were faring
even worse than during the earlier days
Of the famine brought about an emer-
gency arrangement between the fuel
Administrators and the Mayors Com
mlttce of Women on National Defence
that is expected to relieve the most Sc
rlous cases of suffering.
Reeve Schley set aside 200 tons of
coal daily from the limited supplies
arriving to be used in this relief work.
me committee provided that this coal
be distributed in 100-pound bags by
red tickets only. But the holders Of
me tickets will be given priority over
any other orders that may have been
tfecelVed by the dealers or issued by the
,uei adm nistrators. The tickets viii
oe issued by the administrator, but
n'n De gwen. to great extent, on the
.eVommendatlons of the committee
members. who are expected to investi-
eaee each case before granting this
priority ticket.
ne ticket entities the holder 70
purchase 100 pounds Of coal from any
ueaier who possesses that much fuel" F."
SAID Mr Schley. "ff dealer refuses
~ sell the coal. saying that he has q
certain number OF tons on hand but
uas sold it. all that will be necessary
"'u be to summon a policeman and eN-
pan the case to him. The offending
uealer will then be arrested and prose
,Ss ,ased for failing to obey the orders Of
'"e tuel administrations
Naor ilylan took hand in the
snua'lon personally when he directed
another letter to The fuel administra-
S, eors IN which he charged the big coal
neaiers with profitcering at the cx-
bu"se o. tho poor consumers and the
ir;.ns'ers ni;1 VINO. heretofore. have SUP
L rLl'eo inc needs of the poor who pur-
~"SSe a., IN small quantities.
,.. me Mayor called upon the admins
maiors to regulate this business m
v,' s" manner as TO permit the hucn
hs'r TO make q fair profit on the fuol
Ipo'alned from the yards
nj. Unless price conditions can be reg
t"seo so that the huckster is enabled
bo make d fair profit on the coal which
vii, "ssndles, ali the rest Of our doings
W.T. W.T. DC OF little real service TO those
Wv need US most" he said in conclu
d.. me one bright spot in the day Of
ansasSouraging reports from every other
w.ehey having to do with the city's fuel
MO- 10 be found at the Jersey termi-
l;S"a, "herc the coal is dumped for de-
far, TO the city, to New England and
ho. INC bunkcrng of ships in the har.
tba noth labor and fuel conditions at
improved p S'''''