New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
2,O0O,O0O-Ton Municipal
Reserve Urged by Commit
tee After Investigation
Government
Not Blamed
Report Places Responsibility
on Car and Labor Short
age and Strikes

After month of personal inquiry
Mt docks and terminals, and conferences
with mine operators, railroad traffic
officials ard harbor boatmen, the com
mttee appointed by the Broadway Asso-
citation to investigate the fuel famine
issued report yesterday declaring
there world be more distress and
colossal losses next year unless con-
sumers stock up during the summer
and the city provides space for Il re-
serve of at least 100000 tons.
The municipality is advised to buy
this reserve, using it's own vacant
property for storage and sell fuel in
time of stress.
The present shortage, the committee
asserts, was not due 10 price fixing by
the government. No mines were shut
down, despite statements to the con
trary, says the report. Nor were the
fuel drafts of the Allies held to be
contributory cause. Exports during
the entire year of 1917 to all coun-
tries, excepting Canada, it was stated,
amounted to only 5,255,752 tons.
Shortage Is 77,Ss5,655 Tons
Entire responsibility was placed by
the committee on inadequate car ser
vice, shortage of labor and strikes at
the mines. These three factors, it
says, reduced production 1885 ,655 tons
during the period between September
16, when The national fuel adminlstra-
ton took charge OF the situation, and
January 16.
Between the former date and Dccem-
Der 30, the report states, the normal
coal output should have been 213,8ll ,4l0
tons. The actual output was 1856, 6,1U3 SOP
tons. Of this loss, the committee says,
the car shortage was responsible tor
35.451,916 tons. the labor shortage and
strikes for 12,O77 ,539 The same fac
tors, it is said, caused further loss
of 20777,S47 tons between December
20 and January 16.
The committee which made the in
vestigation comprised jefferson dc Mont
Thompson, president of the Broadway
Association; August Jannsen, II: G.
Copeland N. l.. Ottingcr, Leon Vein
stock and p III. Zegat. After they were
appointed on January PA they conferred
with Mayor Uylan, and at his request
their report will be submitted to him.
Other Suggestions
In addition to the city storage plan,
other suggestions to prevent recurrence
of the fuel famine were made, as fol-
lows:
Increase the number Of coal cars
and the locomotive power and stop
the use Of coal cars for other pur-
poses.
Abolish all tolls on the Lehigh
Valley and Delaware and Rartan
River canals.
Increase the bin capacities Of apart
ment houses, hotels and manufacture
ing plants to accommodate summer
stocking, using space devoted to
other purposes if necessary.
Use the barge canal from Watkins,
N. Y, for coal shipments to points
between Albany and Buffalo, SO that
thousands of railroad cars may se-ve
other sections without water connec-
tons.
Exempt competent miners from
military service.
Pool all coal in periods of emer-
gency; build more tugs for New York
Harbor; provide several ice breakers,
which could be used as car ferries in
the warmer seasons; double the car
SlcuullS capacity Oh lNe lNlEleGn
New Jersey coal terminals, and per-
NIT the shipment of clean coal only.
Dirty coal, the report asserts, not
only caused loss of about 25 per cent
in transportation capaci<y recently, put
actually put out fires under the boilers
Of many heating plants throughout the
city.
City Needs $1,000 Tons Daily
The city's daily coal needs are given
by the committee as $4,000 tons of an
thracite and 10000 Of bituminous, the
latter including $4,000 tons for tho
tunkering Of ships.
To guarantee this quantity steadily
throughout the winter, the committee
declales, it is absolutely essential to
have more storage space in the city.
There are no storage facilities at the
mines, and it is necessary to provide
enough cars to load the coal immedi-
ately upon delivery at the tippes, and
to store the fuel in the city
Storage space here, it is pointed out.
commands high rentals. To cover that
and the cost of additional handling
me committee says, 9 slight increase
In the cost Of fuel to the consumer
would not be unreasonable But it
suggests that the city itself take charge
OF accumulatlng vast reserve
There Is said to be plenty of vacant
property along the Harlem River on
which docks and storage yard; could
be established The committee also
recommends another reserve at he
Degnon terminal in Long Island CITY.