New-York tribune., 1918-01-12
Coal Receipts in City
Barely Half of Normal
10000 Tons Reach Manhattan as Demands
Crow-No Decision on Curfew Law-136
Schools Closed-Pnority Order Urged

Barely half of the actual daily fuel
requirements of the city were met by
the approximately 10000 tons of coal
that reached the Manhatian side o! the
North River during yesterday. With the
requirements of the city greatly in
creased b. the total disappearance Of
the surplus of normal times and war
industries demanding an increasing
proportion of the fuel arriving. the
demand upon Washington by fuel ad-
ministrators here for priority order
that would guarantee the delivery of a
stated amount Of fuel daily ives re-
peated.
Brooklvn's public schools sustained
the most serious blow of the present
the borough's schools, were forced to
close for q period Of two weeks because
of empty coal bins. 1t is hoped that
during the two weeks the schools arc
closed it viii be possible to accumulate
fuel reserve that will assure contin-
ued sessions with their reopening in
February. Neither the dealers who sup
ply the schools nor the fuel admins
TRAITOR for the borough could promise
that such would be the case, however.
Curfew Decision Postponed
The question of curtailng the activi
ties of the city's amusement enter
prises was not answered pending the
arrival Of ?. B. Noyes, personal repre-
sentative of National Fuel Adminlstra-
tor Garfield, who will confer with local
officials concerning mon essentials and
the possibility of using their fuel for
industrial necessities. Mr.. Noyes will
arrive here this morning, when q series
Of conferences will be started mmc
diatcly.
Dispatches from Washington say
that Mr. Noyes favors the gradual cur
tailment of fuel supplies to non-essen
tial industries in New York State and
similar economies that can be en-
forced without seriously disrupting the
normal life of New York City. 1t is
improbable that theatres will be forced
to conclude their performances at 10
p. M, as has already been suggested,
unless an acute emergency arises. If
this should come to pass they will be
closed entirely.
Congestion of the freight terminals
in Jersey City is mainly responsible for
the grave situation in New York City,
in the opinion Of Fuel Administrator
Garfield. lie said, however. that A. H.
Smith, assistant director of railroads,
in charge of the New York transporta-
tion problem. will clear up the situa-
tion unless bad weather intervenes
State Fuel Administrator Albert II.
Wiggin sumed up the situation in this
statement, issued in the afternon:
"There will be no orders on con-
servation issued to-day. We have
requested the Washington Office to
take this subject up, making it
national matter, and because Of this
Of the Conservation Bureau in the
United States Fuel Administration,
is coming over tonight for a confer
cnce with us tomorrow.
"The situation continues very seri-
Gus. The anthracite situation is
temporarily little better. The btu
minous situation is more serious
than ever. Unless Washington can
direct a regular supply of coal to
this state many industries will have
to shut down. 1t may affect all lines
"Thcre were dumped at tidewater
to-day for this por, about $1,000 tons
of bitumlnous. which is about half
the needs Of this port q day"
Grave Shortage in Hospitals
Hospitals again we're described as
being in desperate state, because Of
their failure to receive any assurance
that they would continue to have the
their furnaces going The German Hos
pital has less than twelve hours sup
ply of coal on hand. according to Mr..
Schley. The Roosevelt Hospital was
slightly better off last night, the Pres
byterian Hospital has two days' sup