The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-29
COAL SHIPMENTS
FOUND INADEQUATE
Embargo on Building Mater
fal Fails to Speed Up De-
liveries Here.
FUEL SURVEY STARTED
Energetic Campaign Under
taken by New Permanent
Organization.
FUEL SURVEY STARTED

Joseph M. Lonergan, supervising chief
sanitary inspector of the Department of
Health. reported yesterday to DR.. Royal
S. Copeland, Commissioner. that the
coal carrying railroads, in the hope Of
expediting coal movements into this dis
trict again. had placed embargoes upon
building materials bound for this city.
Despite that fact, Mr. Lonergan said,
his survey showed that neither anthra-
cite nor bituminous was coming into
New York in materially greater volume
than at this time last week, though his
understanding was that the building ma
terial embargoes had become effective
forty-eight hours ago.
The special coal committee which was
organized Wednesday. consisting of rep
resentatives of the Board of Health, of
the real estate interests and of owners
OF tenements and apartment houses met
in the st. Paul Building, with Edward
p Doyle, of the Real Estate Board OF
Trade. In the chair. In view Of the be-
lief expressed by the committee that
conditions since 1913 gradually have
been becoming worse in this city, on
account of increased cost, inefficien~de-
livery and threatened shortage of coal
each winter, 1t was determined to form
among the duties of that organization
to make a careful study of the whole
fuel problem, including cost of coal
production at the mine, methods OF
transportation and cost thereof, unload
ing facilities, distribution and carting.
with the incidental cost and time in
volved in each transaction
House to House Canvass.
XIV a
committee calling upon the Health Com
missioner to provide it with its best
available figures covering the citys
shortage of coal for domestic use. DR..
Copeland also wds requested to have the
Mayor memorialized to the end that
there may be house to house canvass
conducted by the Police Department to
determine the citys actual needs.
After a thorough discussion Of the
plan to be followed in its attack upon
extortionate prices and other trade
abuses, several subcommittee were
named to devote their energies to GER
tain phases of the situation. One of
them Is to raise funds, in addition to
the moneys already provided by the
Real Estate Board of Trade and the
Advisory Council OF the Real Estate In
terests. for the carrying on of the COM
mittees work.
Council of the Real Estate Interests
was appointed chairman Of a committee
charged with the duty OF interviewing T.
De Witt Cuyler. chairman of the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives. concern
ing inadequate car supplies, disabled
cars and equipment, and to confer with
him upon all items entering into cost of
fuel transportation and delivery in so
far as concrrns the common carriers.
NIT fiQ.
faction because of reports that Federal
prosecutions instituted against mine
operators in the West Virginia and
other regions had not been pressed after
the operators had pledged n. more active
coopera ton with the Department of Jus
tice. Mr.. Parish's committee. therefore.
was charged also with the task OF con-
ferring with Attorney-General Palmer to
ascertain his official attitude In relation
to evidence already presented to him for
the indictment Of certain of the coal
operators.
Programme of Action.
Mr.. Doyle will head n committee
which is to visit large cities of the East
and also some of the coal mines to
gather first hand information. This
committee also is to seek a personal
conference in Washington with e. L.
merce Commission. and. If possible,
with President Wilson, to demand that
an immediate embargo be placed on
further shipments of coal abroad and
that such coal as is now being held for
export at Baltimore. Hampton Roads,
New York and other Atlantic ports be
diverted for domestic use.
II. VOORHEES, was named chairman of
subcommittee which Is to interview
the presidents of all the coal carrying
railroads supplying Eastern territory,
and to demand an adequate car supply
and reduction in transportation rates
on coal. which the committee holds to
be exorbitant In present freight carry
ing conditions.
Rates on water borne coal shipments
70 New England and coastwise also
came in for their share of critical COM
ment. ]. l.. Hernon OF the Building
Managers and Owners Association is
at the head Of another subcommittee
which will wait upon Rear Admiral
Benson, head of tho United States Ship
ping Board. and urge that what the
committee regards as unreasonably
high rates for water freights be re-
duced within reasonable limits.
Mr.. Lonergan of the Health Board,
who is Commissioner Copeland's per-
sonal representative In the committee,
heads q subcommittee which is TO
study terminal facilities, the amount
Of coal on hand and in daily use In
this city. and to report on possible i'm
provements upon present methods of
unloading and transportation in this
port. He expects to confer and coop
crate with J. b. Ford. chairman for
this district OF the terminal committee
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
Another subcommittee, headed by A.
G. Bang Of Il. S. Willard & Co, will
undertake TO interview the so-called
Independent" coal operators to OBJ
tain their aid in averting the coal
famine now threatening the city.