New-York tribune., 1918-01-02
McAdoo Gives Shipments
Right of Way Until
City Is Relieved
Appeal to U. S.
Brings $4,000 Tons
Temperature Rises Stead
lily From S Below in
Early Morning


New York fuel authorities have tenn
porarily broken the stranglehold of the
coal famine which threatened both life
and commerce during four of the cold
est days the city has seen in years.
More than $4,000 tons of anthracite
we're brought into greater New York
during the forty-eight hours closing at
midnight last night.
By great effort the seven principal
railroads operating between the coal
fields and Jersey terminals carried 1SO,-
600 tons to tidewater in the same
period. Three-fourths of this fuel is
hard or domestic coal, constituting the
immediate reserve of the city's heating
plants.
To make the relief permanent, State
Fuel Administrator Albert H. Wiggin
and County Fuel Administrator Reeve
Schley yesterday literall. set the gov
ernment of the United States, now op-
Grating all the railroads of the coun-
try. into action to save New York from
the possibility of another Arctic siege,
with sickness, misery and death, such
as the last few days of the old year
brought.
Director General McAdoo issued or
ders that the Pennsylvania tubes were
to be used to bring coal into New York
even II passenger service suffered in
reference. Up to midnight. however,
Mr.. Wiggin and Mr.. Schley had not
heard Of the new order from Washing
ton. They conferred with A. II. Smith.
president of the New York Central.
concerning putting the Pennsylvania
'aoes to such use, but took no axtion
Crest Is Passed
The crest of the cold wave passed
Yesterday, but although it was milder
than the three days preceding, it was
nevertheless the coldest New Years day
en- record. The mercury went down to
below zero at O'Clock in the morn
ing. From that hour the temperature
became more moderate. but not moder-
ate enough to relieve TO any appreci-
able extent the distress which had been
accumulatIng for a week or more
lfere were nearrlotS and clamOrouS
demonstrations in various sections of
the city, caused by the refusal of re-
tail dealers to sell coal except to ped
dlers, who resold with added profit in
small lots.
The fuel administrators announced
that the battle was won. that the pass
ing OF the coal spell. the enlarged coal
receipts, and the precautions taken to
prevent a repetition of famine prac-
ucal!y insured the city against future
zero weather Unless both rivers
should freeze. it was said, the situation
could be handled.
McAdoo Pledges Aid
During the day County Fuel Adminis-
traitor Schley received a telegram from
Director General of Railroads McAdoo,
pedgng the aid of the government, an
houncng that he had directed all the
railroads concerned to render every
possible assistance. To see that his
orders were carried out. Mr. McAdoo
sent his personal representative, A. H.
smith, president OF the New York Cen
'ial to the city to confer with Mr.. Wig
gin and Mr.. Schley.
Mr.. McAdoo's telegram to Mr.. Schley
- 40 iCiiONS
Your telegram received. Will 60
everything can to help relieve coal
situation in New York. Have been
directing all railroads concerned to
employ all help possible to relieve
s.'uatlon you outline. | am advised
mat labor shortage is hard to over
come. Have wired Mayor Hylan. ask
ing nm if it is possible to furnish
cuv ndrt Gf tho Cio,-,,<. M
paI'ment Or other city forces to as
s.sV ,l unloading coal cars. Please take
',;1, vne matter up with Mayor Hylan 1
"'i u'fect the railroads to bear ex-
p pense or cost of using any part of
.Se" York City forces that may be
rat ras'ghed to them. Will you please
~ eouch with my representative,
Voxl' " L. smith, president of the New
WI. WI central, who will be in New
''" ana VINO will confer with you?"
Yards Too Small
yors ms Proof pro of the danger in which New
pstarse IVY mas been for years, Harry T.
m;ttas OF the Fuel Conservation Com
tons SAID yesterday that the 0,000
hard,,oo1 o1 coal. now at tidewater, could
nardly be accommodated in the coal
const;te cons oi tne greater city. This amount
ffonstltutes four-days' srDplv of coal
soi said greater 1hs s,. New York, but Mr.. Peters
io'r in I'm. .ne city never had that much coal
ago Sefve' be s; The fuel shortage year
ss', as nos me said, aid was every bit as serious
out n1b%, sb~,.. only the public never found
York iknssf sixtsso ws[e 4l2 coal yards in New
thresS Now there are onIv s;xtv.
coal thauo oon't exactly know how much
reason v' eold soI any four daysSsuppIv. % 'hs The
Nobodva ddassle to use it for storinc o,i ey eoa
on Mayha.n can afford to build sns coal nockets Svas
The local lsi&n fuel ls,and land o'' s1sse days"
vsoaynh fsaay that the main proble sTa'ea o yes
saSssd YORK Yts Sf ss} coal
have eVe9nmens to problem The as' raIr9sas
say S hf has nss time e"sS Ss '1gdy prnepa snd
II tnlosa hoas the cars into bpp,ssns barress LABOR
ra,lroads have beeyn eyes'eqaay sndIyn that the
d;sure duTsr to their force Of fpp'Sdns aSnrsr. sacn
ing 'he last three months ns'ti tbirtv ,tv.