New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Coal Shortage
Threatens CITY
Transit Tie-Up
Continued from page I

systems. so far as the use Of electricity
by the general public is concerned,
however, the savings arc largely in the
hands OF the customers. and in the
genera welfare beg that you will call
upon the people of the city to exercise
every possible care in the use of cur
rent. In other words, the present de-
m"nds must simply be cut to the limit.
Gas Situation Serious
"ln this connection. as you will see,
there IS also a shortage in the gas sSld
IN cutting electric light it does not
/ follow that similar care in the use of
gas should not be exercised
1T may be necessary to have the
city urge in the strongest way upon
the railroad administration that coal
tor public utilities OF this city, plainly
marked. must not be diverted to other
uses. beg to ask that you, as Mayor
OF the city. make such request to the
railroad administration"
10 the letter was attached this state
ment of actual conditions in the city:
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany has coal for full operation for
two days. They har. 10000 tons at
staten Island, and in addition have one
barge somewhere in the harbor carry
ing GOO tons of coal. Unless operation
l. curtalled stoppage of service may
lie forced Immediately
Interborough Near Shutdown
The lnterborough Rapid Transit
Company has at Fifty-ninth Street
$500 tons of coal and at Seventy
fourth Street 5000 tons. When these
quantities are reduced to 1000 tons at
each OF these stations it will be neces-
sary TO suspend operation. In order
10 avoid this, with the hope that some
lepenishment may be obtained, an i'm
mediate curtailment of service will be
permitted.
The BrooElyn Edison Company has
five days supply at its Gold Street
lower house, and in general this may
be put rs the reserve throughout the
system. They have had twentY-three
cars that were consigned 10 them at
Fort Reading. \. j.. seized by the
railroad administration and diverted to
other uses-this in spite Of the fact
that public utilities coal has been
plainly marked
The Nes York Edison Company has
in It's station bunkcrs 22.o45 tons of
coal, alongside stations, 1881 tons;
at Shady side. ,,ooi tous; and has
ceived from Hampton Roads 3,345 tons
making total Of 52,465 tons. This
they assGmc will carry them for two
weeks. They have 5000 tons en- route
from Hampton Road. This company
great expense. Owing 10 the draft Of
the steamers. however. it IS necessary
TO unloai by hand, 50 :hat only about
1000 tons a day can be discharged
from tbs steamers III this way. They
have three steamers at Hampton Roads
now waiting cargoes Of coal. but at
present they are not being loaded.
Gas Situation in Detail
The Consolidated Gas Company mas
at its Astoria plant l4.00O tons OF coal.
which will ,l.n il for about nine days.
They produce about 100000 feet Of
coal gas, and with the coke produced
in the operation they further produce
about 30,0o000U cubic feet OF water
gaa a day. The consumption OF gaa
on tne entire system is greatly in
900 cubic feet, rs compared with TO-
eco ooo cubic feet a day last winter.
Although shey have boats at Staten
Island ready Io bring II 900 tons Of
coal. the reduction TO lA,000 tons at the
Astoria plant is causing uneasiness on
inc parl Of the company's engineers.
as the normal supply is from 10000 70
UU,DOU Ions.
The Brooklyn Union Gas Company
has l.OC0 tons Of anthracite LOO
IONS oi SOFT coal and $4,000 tons o.
gas coal. l. Is safe TO say that this
company can continue full operation
Tor two weeks.
The New ork Steam Company mas
$1,000 tons Of anthracite and 10000
tons Of bitumiNous coal and is in no
dangcr OF SHUTDOWN. Further sup
vii
acrcsa the Aarbor aud a continuance
~ bad conditions now holding in the
port would greatly interfere with pro
ducilon after the use ol their reserves.
Hylan Glames Nixon
Mayor Hylan made an Immediate re-
ply TO Nj. Nixon, his arch enemy ia
traction matters, in which the main
note was thai "aIr. Nixon should not
let u happen again In one paya-
graph the Mayor said:
The city will render every possible
assistance TO help overcome this dere-
lctIon, and hope YOU will see TO il
III the future that this condition does
MOI occur again
Government officials and prominen,
coal operators have been invited to
attend the meeting Of the American In
sttute OF Mining and Metalurgical En-
glneers here on February II. at which
constructive plan for the better
working of the bituminous coal indus
try VIII be presented by Horace V
W lnchell, retiring president Of the in
9tltute and Herbert c. Hoover. Mr.
hoover Will be installed as president
OIL the institute at the meeting
Papers dealing with VI; rous phases Of
the coal mining problem also will be
presented by leading authorities, among
whom are Van II. Manning, director Of
the United States Bureau of Mines:
George Otis Smith, director of the
United States Geological Survey; II. II. +
stock, of the University of illinois,;