New-York tribune., 1918-01-15

more than the average deliveries here
for the last two weeks. the administra-
tor did not believe that it, in itself, wns
any reason fer thanksgiving because Of
the unprecedented decrease in deliv-
cries on Sunday.
Mr.. Wiggin explained that the pre-
sent system of priority distribution"
as he characterized the programme
adopted yesterday, was purely tenn
porary measure, and that it would be
set aside just as soon as Dr. Garfield
issues from Washington a blanket clos
ing order covering all of the Eastern
states.
The question concerning the theatre \
will be passed upon at conference 20
be held in Washington day between
the Fuel Administrator and representa-
tivcs Of The theatres. who have gone 10
the capital to learn whether they will
he forced to close their doors because
OF lack of fuel
The city's schools were victims of
the "automatic closing system even
before the order went into effect. One
hundred and forty-sx schoolhouses
we're not opened during the day be-
cause of empty coalbins. Most of that
number were IN Brooklyn, where it was
agreed they should remain closed until
She opening OF the spring term, in
February, in the hope that a sufficiently
;me 10 make continuous sessions pos
s,blc
While big snowstorm is declared
10 be the one catastrophe that would
make industrial paralysis complete, the
problem OF fuel supply was pictured as
having passed beyond mere question
c. weather. A drop in temperature.
said the administrator, would affect
only the very poor, whose sufferings
.vrt,lA to i,,rrnoco1 Rut .ba
condition of the average coal user
would be 10 worse if the mercury
dropped to zero or rose to a few de-
Grees above that point.
The new distribution system was
mapped out at conference held in the
afternoon at M. Wiggins Office in the
Chase National Eank. Its details We're
carried to the citys coal distributors.
who are expected to carry it into execu
ton, in the following communication:
"To all Fuel Distributors OF New
There is at present. and indca-
tions are that there will be for the
next sixty days. serious shortage
of both bituminous and anthracite
for the state Of New York. Regula-
tons are necessary as 70 the distr-
button of this insufficient supply
among the many essential demands.
We have urged upon the fuel admin
stration at Washington that conscr-
vation regulations should be general
and applicable not only to New York,
but to the entire Eastern section of
the country where the present short
age is the most acute. We have point
ed out that the central authority
which regulates the distribution
among the states and which may is
sue q priority order to one state or
section should issue any orders cover
ing the temporary or partial smut
down of industries. We have eX-
planned that it is inequitable to have
priority Of coal for another state or
section and priority of conservation
for New York There being an in
sufficient supply for the entire East
ern section of the country that sup
ply should be apportioned by the cen
trail authority at Washington and the
curtailment in use should be uniform
throughout the entire section. Cntt
Washington issues its instructions,
dealers are directed to give pref
erence in the order following:
81. Hospitals.
"2. Households and public utilities.
'3. Food producers.
The above is subject to such spe
cial instructions as may be issued by
this Office or county administrators III
tnclr respective dlStrlctS.
"ALBERT H. WIGGIN,
Estate Fuel Administrator"
The question Of coal delivery became
one of the most important of the day
when it was officially announced that
the total of 5o,h kinds of coal await
iisg delivery on the other side of the
North River vas 359 $50, or an in
crease of 42.c0C tons over the previ
Gus day, despite a freight tie-up that
was expected to prevent coal deliv-
cries.
At the office Of A. H. Smith, deputy
Commissioner of Railroads, it was an
nounccd thai :he railroads had broken
all records in delivery of coal, and that
it was now up TO New York to make
deliveries of fuel across the river.
But both FEDERAL and local admin
istrators here vigorously denied that
the roads could shift responsibility in
that manner. They pointed to the fact
that the roads owned the docks, the
tugs and the facilities for handling the
COAL and hat delivery was not COM
plete, where coal was consigned to
owners upon Manhattan Island, until
it had been brought to this side Of
the river.
Railroad shipping does not stop at
tidewater, and any big purchaser Of
coal knows that" said Mr.. Wigcin.
"The barge business is the railroads.
business, and they own tugs and
barge for ,na Tery purpose of making
those deliveries Unless they deliver
the ucl it doesn' t set delivered at all !"
The administrator. backed by Reeve
Schley, administrator for Manhattan
Island, called attention to tho fact that