The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-17
CITY ANDSTATE
MOVE TO CARRY
OUT FUEL ORDER
Administrators Say They
Will Bend Efforts for Ef-
ficient Operation.
EXECUTED AS WAR SHIFT
Plan Remedy in Working at
Unloading Day and Night
on Coal Piers.

ooen transmitted to the fuel omciAlD Of
New York STATE and city up to the time
they closed their OFFICES yesterday and
they first heard such An order had been
Issued from representatives Of the
newpapers
Albert H. Wigsin, State Administra.
tor. said merely he had not heard Of the
order officially and he could make no
comment concerning It until he had re-
ceived his official notification.
But 1t goes without saying" he
added. II will meet my associates Of the
State Administration so soon as We can
get together In the morning and we will
bend all our efforts to arranging for the
smooth and efficient operation OF the
order"
Reeve schley. Administrator for Man.
haitian, said:
'"rhe order Is an entire surprise TO me
had no knowledge Of II up to the time
LEFT my Office. We recommended
drastic measures Of some sor, in our
consultations with p. b. Noyes, repre-
sentins d.. Garfie!d. during the few
meetings We had with him in the Las,
several days but the orders which have
Deen issued are much more radical than
any suggested 20 Washington by US" (.
Execsted A. From Superior ONeer,
As to what he intend ded to 60 toward
seing that the orders were Strictly OH
served In his jurisdiction Mr. Sch.ey
said:
can hardly discuss that until re-
ceive the formal orders. expect to re-
ceiVe these to-inorroT. Whatever they
are they viii De executed as war orders
receiTed from = superior Off ficer."
An indication Of what some of the
measures toward an efficien, coal tran
SIT from tidewater to the city will be
was contained In a statement issued by
Mr. W!gsin yesterday and subscribed
%? MN. Mr.. Schley and Harry T. Peters.
chairman Of the State conserya tion com.
mittee
Ihe statement was prepared before any
OF the siGners had knowledge of the
order OF DR.. GARFIELD and In the mn In
dealt with charge made early in the
week to the effect that the Fuel Admin
istrators were not working in harn,oar
with Alfred II. Smith. Director GencrA
or Railroads for the East. Ii recon-
nended particularly that coal unloa ding
De Kept up twenty-four hours day at
hdewater instead Of only ten or twea ty
hours day. AZ 1t has on most Of the
days OF the coal famine. and said in
part:
There Is one remedy for the situa-
tion. and that Is to work the coal piers
to the utmos-. The custom has been to
work one ten hour shift or two ten hour
shirts. The remedy 10 to work three
shifts Of eight hours on all docks, con-
tinually having fresh men. II these can
could dump more than 100000 tons 4
day. This has been called to the atten-
ton Of the railroads
THE Fuel Administration does not
control the railroads nor the labor nor
the barges nor the tugs, but nevertheless
and without regard to the limitations 81
its authority or Jurisdiction II has sought
in every conceivable way to speed up the
docks and to remedy the deficiency In
tugs. But. Notwithstanding it's efforts.
from the I'D to the 9th Of January In
elusive there were dumped at eleven
docks an average Of 1850 cars a day
when tbere were standing ready for un-
loading an average Of 4,i27 cars daily.
In other words there were over three
cars standing ready to be dumped at
these docks for every one dumped during
| this period
Lishten 0sasestion At Coal Piers,
I'VE have also made every effort to
remedy the situation by endeavoring TO
have the coal piers in New York re.
iieved Of handling the bunker coal for
the steamships and also relieved OF
! New England points. We have suggested
10 Mr.. Noyes Of DR.. 0arheld's ONCE
that New England points be taken care
OF by barges and the steamships be
| loaded at the large coal docks In Phil
adelphia and Newport News. This Is
| the method by which New England has
, been In the habit Of receiving the major
part Of its coal. Due to the fact. how
ever. that . large number Of coal car
ryinG ships which supplied New Eng.
| land with fuel have been commandeered
by the Government New England fnds
itself not only short Of fuel but also
short Of facilities for Transporting fuel
! In the customary way and the effort to
build up new channels to take care oi
the needs OF New England has the Of.
feet Of increasing the shortage In
| Greater New York.
'Thers are these physical. practical
difFicuitiss In the way which We are do.
| ing our best to overcome. They are no'
| no easily surmountsd - It may seem te
q casual observer. We have at no time
considered extreme conservation meas
urss except ~ Q last resort. We have
been and are doing evsrythins3 within
-ouf power to deliver more coal 4
Greater New York. but II 10 our DUTY q
foresss all Of the contingencies Sher<
may bs In the ajtuation, no matter nov
unpleasant. and 70 endsavor'to provide
Continued on sses~d i'oss,