New-York tribune., 1918-01-05
Jersey Seizes
Coal to Heat
Homes of Poor
Action in Many Cities
Cripples Industry, but
Relieves Suffering

Cities in New Jersey almos. com
pletely solved the water supply problem
yesterday, but the prolongation Of the
cold wave rendered the coal situation
infinitely more serious, SO much so that
in many cases Mayors. fuel administra-
tors and other public officials were
obliged to resort to Communicating Of
coal stores to relieve suffering. thus
diverting the supply from factories and
other industries, which were obliged to
shut down or operate on limited
basis.
Throughout nearby Jersey the policy
now is to furnish heat in homes, cspe-
cially those Of the poor. even if public
utilities and plants making war mate
rials must close their doors. At Bay
cnne. Hackensack, Orange, Red Bank
and Hoboken there were official seiz-
ures of carloads and stores, while in
Newark Mayor Gillcn told committee
of coal dealers that if they tried to-
day to fulfil contracts for serving big
corporations, the people might mob
their cars-"and if that happens, the
police force is likely to be found at
the other end Of the city,
A riot was averted in Hoboken only
by presence of mind Of officials. The
recent establishment by Mayor Griffin
of a series Of coal stations and the
passing out Of red cards to needy citi-
zens proved a lure to several canny
Jersey citizens, who, by reciting their
troubles, we're able to get served with
out the official red passport. They re-
ported their success when they re-
turned home, with the result that a
general migration ensued from Jersey
City to Hoboken.
Seizes Fifteen Cars
Frank Scribner, Fuel Administrator
Of Jersey City, relieved matters there
in Bayonne. All the schools in the
city were closed and the Board Of Ed
ucation gave its moderate reserve sup
ply to the general need.
The entire stock of coal belonging
to the Merchants Steamboat Company
at Red Bank was commandeered by
Newton Doremus, Fuel Administrator
/ for Monmouth and Ocean counties, tc
be distributed through local dealers II
small quantities. Two carloads were
similarly taken at Ramsey, for use il
Hackensack.
Police Judge Francis A. Mott, O.
East Orange, set an example for other
by volunteering his services for shovel
ing and delivering coal in 500-poun'
lots to needy cases.
Many Factories Idle
Among the factories now idle be
cause of coal shortage are the W.
Clark Wire Works. American Can Com
pany, -Stillman Company
Standard Aircraft Corporation and tn
Duezenberg Motor Corporation in tn
Elizabeth district, all engaged in gov
ernment war work. The Thomas 4
Edison plant, at West Orange, re
mained closed and cannot resume unit
Monday at the earliest. Silk mills, ha
factories and similar plants in nearb
cities have shut down almost withou
exception, and electric light and trolle
service is badly crippled everywhere j
the state.
In order to do their little bit to al
leviate conditions, clergymen in nearl
all the Jersey towns have banded to
gether and decided to give union SCI
vices tomorrow, with as many as fou
!, and five congregations squeezed int
single churches. One unusual sight 6
Montclair was the delivery of SO
pounds of coal in hearse.
The trouble with the water supply s
Hoboken and Jersey City, which wa
the most serious phase of the cond
tions there on Thursday, was remedie
YESTERDAY through mendinp of mains