Evening star., 1918-01-05
COAL famine ENDED
BY FLEET Of BARGES.
New York Supplies Fuel to
Poor-PhiIadeIphia Provides
Shelter for Sufferers.

NEW YORK. January with the
arrival here today OF nearly $4,000 tons
OF ceal on barges that had been Ice
bound in the bay. fuel administrators
expressed thei- belief that the back
bono of New Yorks coal famine had
been broken. The harges reached the
city from New Jersey tidewater points.
after a feet of tugs had pounded a lane
through the ice foes Of the Kill Won
kull Unless severe weather sets in
again. it is expected. there will be a
steady flow of coal to the city in the
next few days. as more than 400. 900
tons are reported at or near terminals
Tugs today continued their work OF
smashing the great ice Jam through
staten island sound to liberate thou
sands of tons of coal in barges in Prin-
cess bay. About 5000 tons OF coal
came through the Pennsylvania rail-
road tubes under the Hudson river to-
day.
The coal reached New York at op-
portune time. for many large business
houses and hotels were ready TO sus-
pend business today for lack Of fuel
Relief for the Poor.
To relieve the acute suffering in the
poorer sections Of the city Mayor Hylan
has made arrangements TO distribute
small quantities of coal to needy fami-
lies free. By private subscriptions $780,
600 was raised In twelve hours yester-
day to provide fund for this purpose.
The police today began a house-to-
house canvass In these sections. and
residents who had more coal than nee
essary for immediate needs were asked
to contribute to those who had none.
Settlement workers reported that
there has been big increase in calls
for help within the last few days, and
I n sa fNr- L..
ords.
Increasing unemployment also has
been reported and some estimates have
placed the number OF those temporari-
ly unemployed as high as 100. eco. Many
OF these, II is said, were thrown out
OF work by the closing of various In.
dustrial establishments. due to loss OF
heat. water or power.
Men Suffering, Horses Dying.
Mrs. J. NJ. Ehrlich, president of tho
Horse Aid Society. reports that horses
are dying in greaat numbers and thou
sands OF them are suffering as a result
Of undertaking. overwork and expos
ure.
AT least 1000 horses are owned in
this city by poor families which are
unable to buy them sufficient food or
have them stabbed properly" Mrs. Ehr-
Itch said.
Deaths among the animals are in
shame those OF humanity Even the
Army horses are not free from this"
Haven for Women and Children. :
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, January 5.-
To relieve suffering caused by the se-
we're cold wave and coal shortage, rec
reatfon centers throughout the city will
be thrown open tonight to women and
children in whose homes there is no
fuel and should the cold spell continue
| theaters. moving picture houses.
chcurches and hospitals will be asked
by the city authorities to throw open
their doors to the sufferers.
This action was decided upon last
night at a meeting of city officials and
| the emergency aid at the Office of DIR.
Wilmer Krusen, director of the depart
ment OF health and charities. There
are at least 10000 homes in Philadel.
| phia where there is sickness and suf-
! fering on account Of the fuel shortage
and. according to DR.. Krusen, the situa-
| ton is growing worse daily.
Sickness in 10000 Homes.
| Something must be done immediate. .
! W." said DR.. Krusen. AT least 10000
| homes have sickness in them, and all
| together there are more than 100, 900
people suffering from cold"
Policemen today began a canvass of
all homes in the city to ascertain the
| supply of coal on hand, and where 1t is
larger than necessary for Immediate
! use the owners will be asked to share
| it with families without heat in which
there Is illness. Householders with ex-
| ira rooms will be urged to fill them
with neiRhbors who have no heat.
Although the railroad congestion was
still serious, larger receipts of coal was
| expected here today as a result Of the
embargo placed last night by the Penn
sylvan1a railroad on all freight except