Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-13
5CARSOF COAL
DIVERTED HERE
Acted as Mayor and Not as Coal
Man, He Says
1900 TONS SENT FROM HERE
To Overseas Port When City
Was Facing Fuel
Famine

Owing to the scarcity of chestnut
and stove coal in this city and the IN
ability of residents to secure much
needed supplies, Mayor Frank Dorsey,
acting as mayor of the city ana not as
coal dealer, to use his own words, mas
inst completed a three days investi-
cation and has succeeded in having
fifteen cars of coal diverted to local
dealers in order that they might sup
ply the people here. In the course
of this investigation Mayor Dorsey
learned that while Perth Amboyans
were using every method possible 10
secure a small supply OF coal,
schooner was loaded with l'fOo tons
of chestnut in this city and sailed for
an overseas port. A..
Yesterday Mayor Dorsey went TO
The Offices of the Lehigh Valley Coal
Sales Company in New York ana eN-
nlained the conditions existing mere
as the result of the coal scarcity. lie
said that there was no chestnut or
stove coal in the yards of any or the
coal dealers at present and that some
shipments would have to be MADE
Immediately to relieve conditlons'
Mayor Dorsey pointed out that II the
weather should turn suddenly cold the
people in this city would be FACED py
a serious problem in not pelnS aoIe
to secure any coal.
After hearing the mayors descrlp-
ton of conditions here the Lehigh
Valley Coal Sales Company immedl-
ately diverted fifteen cars to this city
and these shipments are due tomor-
row or Saturday. They will be divid-
ed between the coal dealers regularly
supplied by this company so all might
have at least a small supply on hand
to tide them over until more ship
ments arrive.
The Lehigh Valley Coal Sales Com
pany Is endeavoring to care for its
Great Lakes business at present ana
is turning most of its attention to TINS
part of the country as after naVlga-
ton closes on the lakes this business
will be impossible. After cold wealth
er sets in on the Lakes the Coal Com
pany plans to devote it's attention to
the markets in this vicinity. The
Mayor was told that IL this Company
was kept informed upon conditions
here, Perth Amboy would be relleveo
at all times by them.
Rumors to the effect that coal was
being shipped to other countries from
this city when Z was impossible fol
Perth Amboyans to secure a supply
reached the ears of the Mayor early
in the week and he started an inves
tigation. He learned that there was
truth to this report ana that schoon'
er had been loaded with 100 tons o.
chestnut at the Lehigh Valley dock
here and shipped overseas. This cargo
of coal, the Mayor learned, was mo-
exported by the Lehigh Valley Goa
Sales but by another company
Many complaints were received by
the mayor from those who knew TIM
| coal was being exported and he learn
ed that the men who trimmed thu
coal on the schooner were unable tC
get any here for their own use a
home.
'Tf this exporting business contin-
ues," Mayor Dorsey said, land the
| people Of Perth Amboy are not taker
| care Of | will take some steps to have
| an investigation made here. | shall
keep close watch on any exporting o
coal from here in the future and als'
will learn what prices those export
ing it are being paid for it."