New-York tribune., 1919-12-05
All City's Transportation
Lines to Dispense With
Heat in Rush Hours for
the Next Two Weeks
Theater Signs to
Blaze for an Hour
Merchants and Manufac-
turers Rally Forces to
Meet National Crisis

Measures to conserve coal were de-
cided upon yesterday at conference
of public utility officials and Public
Service Commissioner Nixon. AL
though transit service will not be
cut for the present, heating of sur
face, al" and subway cars will be
curtailed during the rush hours. The
Edison Company and it's customers
will do their part, beginning to-
sight, by dimming all electric signs
in the theater district at $3.50 o'clock.
The experiment Of eliminating ex-
ira heating on the city's transporta-
ton systems will be tried for a
period of two weeks, at the end of
which it will be determined whether
further retrenchment is expedient.
Between 1880 and $3.50 p m. only
will the lights of the White Way
blaze. Theater patrons will see the
same old White Way as they go to
the theater, but will be ushered out
after the show upon a dark Broad
way.
Nixon in Conference
After a conference with representa-
tives of fifteen public utility COM
ranies. Mr. Nixon granted permission
to the companies to cut down heat
ing. But he refused to abide any
curtailment of service until cit is con-
sidered absolutely necessary" During
the non-rush hours, the cars will be
heated as usual, for no additional coal
is required for heating purposes when
the traffic is light.
. The date on which the new order is
Ito go into effect has not yet been an
nounced, but it is expected the COM
MISSION Will order the ruling effective
early next week if the coal supply in
tne city is not rapidly increased. But
as soon as the situation is relieved, the
heating order, which calls for ade-
qoate heating during the winter months
When the street temperature is less
}nan 30 degrees, will again become
operative.
In explaining the situation, Com
missioner Nixon said last night:
MY desire was not to wait for
Crisis to arise, but to avoid it as far as
possible. Rather than face a possible
Moppage service, l have decided that
me best way to meet crisis is to take
steps to prevent it. | am considering
whether reduction cannot be made in
she lighting of stations and cars. far
more brilliantly lighted in this city
Than elsewhere.
Will Save 600 Tons a Day
We shall endeavor to avoid anv cnr-
allment of service unless it is con-
sdered absolutely necessary. | have
..e'ied the attention of several operat
ias companies to the necessity of
aas'ng all AR pumps and light circuits
W. In standing cars laid up at ter
Ina's and other points. This will help
u some degree to conserve coal"
r;M more than SIX hundred tons a day
""i pe saved by this order, according
ss.s;as NJ e;sa.lmates made by. Frank Hedley,
f,sms;e. f,s,'ueh' OF the lnterborough Rapid
ssansit and William NJ Menden, rep-
nsssenting Receiver Garrison. of the
brooklyn Rapid Transit. A curtail-
msa5 ;ua IN service would add to this saw
ra ms, put Commissioner Nixon said such
u.udetion w' during the holiday season
mvald be unpopular and was not vet
necessary. 'es
MI mr. Hedley said he believed the
greatest saving would be effected on
sae local branch of the subway. When
SSass'ehgers Sas enter the locals. they do
avs,- aus take their coats off. Mr.. Hedley
.SpIs .SSp.a'hed, and many of them ride for
sSSaa distances only. Besides, he
'uUvo av the majority of them stand.
ies,", interrupted Commissioner
s"Ton' that's the trouble"
p.llaoee president of the Interborouph
AsH,d Transit countered by saving:
les, they stand during the. rush
lss' lhvufs' and they stand so close that the
S.;sa Sssnt neat IN the human body is suf-
>'a'' l think, to heat these cars"
Minden Estimates Saving
NJ" N"', :, ,MInden of the B. r. T. followed
d;,;,Ine medley and said that the con-
osona Tor that company were anal
H. 70 those of the Intcrborough.
road dIss'ma,ed that the saving on his
he d.;,''uio SHuio be about 20 per cent of
h ",.y consumption of 1900 tons.
'sv1er .n, Nixon said:
prsc,;.s are Up against situation which
thsssucaiiy amounts to crisis. and
n e e. may be some means by which
Asn1as. curtail some of the useless
y e6os,sa e6aiture @ of current in this city. No
hn;ss WI. VIII be made to penalize com
es ma.s wnish had laid in stocks Of coal
nn .s tne shortage, and there will
eo,ssn pooilng Of resources unless the
smu1nment ~ demands it.
eba,r ase prepared to aid and not to
continued the Commissioner.
Continued ~, rnn. fo,,,.