The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31
Situation Outlined.


chief sanitary inspector of the Board
Of Health.
Situation Outlined.
In behalf of this committee the fol-
lowing statement of the situation was
made public yesterday:
New York city needs annually
900 tons of anthracite and 100000
tons of bituminous coal. This would
necessitate an average weekly delivery
of about $50, 600 tons. During the last
six months this delivery has been neg
ligible and only during the last three
weeks has any real attempt been made
to supply New York city with coal.
During that time the average deliv-
cry week has been IL 900 cars, almost
equally divided between anthracite ana
bituminous. Eleven thousand cars mean
5000 gross tons of coal
THE result Of the neglect to FURNISH
New York city with a needed supply
is an alarming shortage ut the begin
ming Of cold weather. The testimony
taken before the United States wage
Commission and before the Calder com.
mittee showed that bltumlnous coal
could have been contracted for at the
mine last spring for $3.70 a gross Ton.
and the cost of production of anthracite
coal, giving a fair profit to the oper-
ator. was s6.40 per gross ton.
1.-THE average freight to New YORK
c;tv ia s225 gross ton. The cost or
terminal handling and delivery should
not exceed $3.50 per ton. In otner
words. bituminous coal should be DEW
cred in New York. allowing pront Oh
81 q ton to the retailer, for sS.45 n
ton. and anthracite coal should be de-
livered for s11.15 a ton. II should also
be remembered that the dealers pay Tor
n gross ton of 2240 pounds and deliver
n ton of 1000 pounds. The difference III
gross and net will more than cover the
screening and yard deterioration and
the loss in weight.
1.-THE retail price of anthracite ranges
from s11S0 per ton for pea coal TO S14
for larger domestic sizes, and pitumi-
nous has sold as high as S21 per ton
why Coal Is Barred.
"ro ascertain why an average Of
$4,000 tons is not allowed weekly 10
New York city and why there is such
difference between fair price and the
price charged is the object of the COM
mittee.
',rhe committee will make a thorough
Investigation and will find out:
al Cost of production of anthracite
and bituminous at the mines.
90 Cost of transportation to New
York.
49, Cost Of unloading and storage.
a. Cost of delivery TO consumers.
sat will also investigate and report on
al The difficulties In the way of pro-
duction which affect supply and cost.
"2. The difficulties in the way OF
transportation which affect supply and
cost
49, The difficulties in the receipt at
terminals and delivery to consumers
which add to cost and delay delivery.
gnp,v1fttGa will effort
to get at the bottom of the whole ques-
tion particularly as the members of the
Real Estate Board of New York and the
Building Managers and Owners Associa-
ton represent large percentage of
users of both anthracite and bituminous
coal"
The Wholesale Coal Trade Association
of New York also issued statement last
evening through its secretary, Charles
S. Allen, from its headquarters, 80 West
street.
Statement Issued.
eff the coal user, be he large or
small" says the associations bulletin.
"will conserve his coal and not insist on
seeing his bin full to the brim, but IL
content with a nominal supply for the
present. q serious coal shortage will be
averted.
mace on warm days and do not overhead
your home'-that is n part of the timely
counsel vouchsafed the shlvering house.
holder by the wholesalers.
Save coal by cutting out wasteful
methods of firing" the bulletin con-
tnues. "Save by keeping fiues and
chimneys clean Save by repairing leaky
valves. Save by keeping your furnace
in good condition. Have your heating
plant thoroughly gone over before the
severe weather arrives. Place your
order for your winters supply II you
want to- but don't demand or expect
your entire needs TO be delivered at one
time. BE satisfied to keep Just a safe
amount of coal ahead Don't duplicate
your orders with n dozen concerns for
In this way you create false demand.
"rhe coal situation" says the bulletin
in conclusion. "is not nearly so serious
as is generally thought. 1t is suggested
that a great demand has been created
nv the panicky buyer who. disregard
ing all precedent. Is trying TO secure his
entire supply at once. The association
reiterates its assertion made several
weeks ago that there will be no heat
less Mondays or lightless nights this