New-York tribune., 1918-01-10

getting coal from tidewater to the
city. 1t was intimated that the new
administrator would possess broad
powers of communicating and rerout-
most needed.
But if such was the case none of
the city's administrators knew of them
yesterday. AS far as could be learned.
they were not used. The three priority
orders that made the city all but
coalless still were in operation at a
late hour last night.
And that leaves US total of exact
ly nothing" was the last despairing re-
mark of Reeve Schley, New York County
tuel administrator, as he set out for a
late conference last night "I don't
know how many business houses will be
closed down to-day, but can say that
the situation is desperate"
1t was generally admitted, however,
that unless New York was given an i'm
mediate priority order or some pro,
vision that would permit Searles to
commander fuel so badly needed here,
10 coal routed through the city to other
points would be safe from seizure
No coal arrived in the city through
the Pennsylvania Railroads tubes, ow-
ing to a delay caused by the short-cir-
cutting OF the current on one of the
trains. Another danger involved was
due to coal falling from cars in the
tunnel. One lump falling against the
third rail, it was said, might start a
fire that would fill the tube with gas
and smoke and bring about a te-up
such as was experienced in the Hudson
Tubes week ago.
New York Coal Seized
Meanwhile administrators i'm New
Jersey continued to dip into New York s
meagre supply whenever such uncere-
monious transactions appeared desira-
BILE. The local administrator of Middle
sex County, N. j., took possession of
three carloads of coal that had been
passed by the Federal officials and con.
signed to the NJ. A. Hanna Company
here. The administrator of Hudson
County found some other use for thir-
teen cars consigned to Dickson &; Eddv
for their Manhattan plant.
Several hundred cars of New York
bound coal were declared to have been
taken--n some instances entire trains
we're taken jntact-to make up the SOC
cars that must go to Boston and points
north each day before New York is
given any fuel.
Just how many institutions will be
forced to remain idle local administra-
tors of fuel refused to estimate. "Most
desperate' was the description of the
coal situation here by fuel administra
tors in an Official message to Wash
lngton. however, as the dwindling sup
Plies of coal arriving in the city dur
ing the day reached point some place
below the 90 per cent of the average
daily requirements here. Exactly H. 900
tons Of anthracite coal We're officially
announced as arriving here during the
twenty-four hours ending at noon.
The closing of churches and saloons
or at least curtailing the number of
hours they remain open. was admitted d
by Albert II. Wiggin, state fuel admin
lstrator, to be under consideration
flfty- eight public schools already are
closed and the prospects of others be-
ing closed to-day were declared to he
imminent at the closing of business
hours last night.
The situation IN New York schools
which IS growing more serious each
day, was given attention at a con
ference of fuel admin istrators held late
IN the afternoon. A detailed report on
the heating problem in the schools, es.
peclally IN brooklyn. where all of the
/ schools are threatened, was made to
r. &. Gunnison, Brooklyn fuel admin
! lstrator. by Arthur S. Somers, presi.
dent of the Board of Education.
In this communication he said:
IL have refraincd from writing YOU
regarding the schools in the Borough
or Brooklyn in the hope that cond
tons might improve A report was
made TO me yesterday showing that
forty schools in the Borough Of Brook
lyn were closed for the lack of coal. I
requested the superintendent of school
supplies to prepare data showing the
exact condition. and, from the figures
nave before me, indications are that
practically all the schools. with the ex-
ceptlon OF about twenty in the Borough
OF Brooklyn will close in the very near
future because Of lack of fuel.
IAN estimate on hand shows. that
/ htty-two schools have no coal at the
present time, seventy-hve schools
have less than one days coal. approx
mately i20 schools have less than two
days supply. | think it will only be
necessary to bring this condition to
Your personal notice in order to have
prompt steps taken, to furnish the
schools with all necessary coal st once.
Of course you realize that
"The furnishing the coal of schools
will conserve coal in .he home.
"ThC hrnlth Of tho ruDilc Win H..