New-York tribune., 1918-02-08
Only 10000 Tons Reached
Here Yesterday, Despite
the Mild Spell
Warm Weather
For Week Needed
Fuel Administrators Hear
of Schemes to Overcharge
Consumers

1t took just one day of sprnglike
temperature u prove to fuel bound New
York industries that as q relief agency
the big thaw had been greatly over
advertised. The chief tangible result
OF the rising temperature in the city
yesterday was that apartment houses
were warmed without coal. The move
ment of coal cars was facilitated but
little.
Exactly 1880 tons of anthracite coal
was delivered to the empty fuel bins
of the city during the day. In view of
the high expectations of those who had
been praying for the belated January
thaw. this result lt-considerably less
than half of the city's normal needs
was highly disappointing.
In the light of the days disappoint.
ments, fuel administrators, coal men
and railroad superintcndents got to-
gether III the afternoon in an informal
conference that was held over tele-
phones to learn just what the city
might expect in the way of fuel relief
The net result was the following an.
minlstrator for Manhattan
That to-day probably will be far
ieaner day than yesterday.
That the tate Of the city's indus
tries and the comfort of apartment
mouse dwellers are now out of the
hands Of the fuel administl ators and
IN those Of the Weather man
That at least q week of the present
mild weather will be necessary to
bring much of an improvement in
conditions here.
Thaw Not Yet Effective
The secret OF the fuel delivery, ac-
cording to the experts who endeavored
TO explain it yesterday is that the
thaw has not yet made itself felt in the
mining districts from which the coal
must be brought to New York and At
lantic ports. In the mountainous dis
trcts through which tie fuel trains
come East there are many spots. ac-
cordlng to Weather Bureau charts, that
have not begun to thav, and probably
will not for another day, even in tho
event of continuance of the warm
weather.
But one immediate result of the warm
weather, which was to be seen with
the naked eye. was the thawing out of
coal cars that heretofore have been
contents could be removed. One of the
big sources of delay in unloading coal
here has been that the small domestic
sizes demanded for the citys needs
have been frozen in solid blocks in the
cars in which they have been brought
to the city.
The Sun Does the Work
Before unloading was possible it was
necessary to insert the nozzle of a
steam pipe in the bed of coal and
pump steam into it for hours. Even
then the work was slow and costly
After sun bath yesterday this system
CT heating coal became unnecessary.
"We are about two days behind
actual coal production,' said Mr.
Schley in the afternoon. "That is, il
this thaw begins in the coal regions at
once it will take at least two days for
it to make any difference in coal deliv.
cries here. Consequently, with the
best of conditions. it will take at least
a week of this weather to bring us any
way near solution of our fue
problems.
But we are hoping that the warm
weather will continue. Another severe
storm and solid freeze would leave
it is all up to the weather man now"
Complain Against Shippers
Numerous complaints against ship
pers-as yet not named ally-wht
arc declared TO be using various prac
tees to eXtort large sums from Goa
users through trick devices have re
suited in an investigation by the fue
administration. 1t is probable tha
they will be fought with the agenc,
that has been used to force complianc,
with numerous other government pric,
fixing regulations, that Of publicity.
One of the simplest of the plans fo
overcharging big coal users, as de
scrbed by deputy fuel administrato
yesterday is that of shipping coal t.
Canada, theoretically, to be sold at tn,
prices fixed by the government
The fuel then is shipped back int,
the United States and sold to indus
tries that are in desperate need of fue
at eXorbitant prices. The reshpmen
Is explained by saying that there is g;
certain Canadian firm" that can spar
part of its coal If it is paid for the los
that will result from the sacrifice. Tn
price usually is paid without a protest
According to this administrator, resi-
dents of small towns near the CANADIAN
border have seen long trains OF Goa
cars pass through their borders 70
Canada, often tagging on sidetrack
near homes chat are cold 1t is becaus
of letters from these complanants tina
the present investigation was begun.