New-York tribune., 1920-10-19
483 Die i'm City
OfPnel11nOnia
In Six w eeks
Deaths Double Those for
Same Period in 1919;
Weather Conditions and
Lack of Coal Are Blamed
Copeland Gives Warming
Fuel Shows Gain in Week
of 2O,534 Tons; Rumor
of a Brooklyn Combine

From September until last Satur-
day there have been 4S3 deaths in this
city from pneumonia, according to n
statement Yesterday by DR.. Royal $.
Copeland, Health Commiss oner. This
number, DR.. Copeland said, was about
double that for the same period last
year. The increased number of deaths
is indirectly attributed to the unset
tied weather recently. Because of this
condition the Health Department has
been taking unusual precautions to
guard the city's health. DR.. Copeland
said the principal thing needed was
coal to supply heat in every house in
the city.
Il have just reached an agreement
with the Retail Coal Merchants Asso.
citation by which any landlord, by pre-
senting a certificate from the Board
of Health, will be given coal at the
prevailing prices" he said. 81 have
nothing to do with the price. 1t is my
business to furnish health, no matter
what the cost. There is no excuse for
any landlord being without coal, as
there is enough to furnish heat to all
if it is properly distributed"
DR.. Copeland said the tenants after
satisfying themselves that the land
lord had coal on the premises should
notify the Health Department if the
apartments were not properly heated.
When the temperature is 90 degrees on
the street the law requires the house
be above 65 degrees. inspectors are
held ready to investigate and penalty
OF $500 fine or year in prison is pro
Vided.
A letter was sent to Commissioner of
Markets O'Malley by DR.. Copeland call
ing attentionVo the fact that a num-
ber Of families living in tenements are
purchasing coal by the buNct and
basket. DR.. Copeland requested Com
missioner OMalley to see that these
people are not overcharged.
1882 Tons cn Hand
The public utility corporations of
this city had on hand Al7 ,S72 tons of
soft coal on October 49, according to
the weekly report OF soft coal stocks
made yesterday to Lewis Nixon, Public
Service Commissioners This was 1874
tons more than was on hand the previ
Gus week. The gross amount Of the
stock is not regarded by the Public
Service Commission as sufficient to as
sure the several utility companies of
ar adequate coal supply to last them
through the coming winter.
Commissioner Nixon appointed
committee of three last week, headed
by Frank Hedley, president Of the In
terborough Rapid Transit, to make a
survey Of the situation and report to
Him Thursday what steps should be
taken to assure an improved supply of
coal
The report shows that the Inter
borough Company has only 1921 tons
on hand, sufficient for four days sup
Yly. The B. r T. has lG,46 tons or
I irtccn daya' supply. The New York
Edison Company has l40o27 tons, or
thirty-onc days supply. The brooklyn
Edison Company has S4 SCI tons, or
sixty days supply. The Consolidated
Gas Company system has so .564 tons,
CT sufficient for 40 days The New
ork and Richmond Gas Company has
en- hand only seventeen tons, or one
days supply.
District Attorney Harry Lewis of
brooklyn yesterday began an invcstiga-
ton to determine whether there was
any combine among coal dealers in
Brooklyn to maintain the present high
prices. Several dealers were summoned
to his office yesterday. There was re-
port current that the dealers had
formed company and that each mem
hcr WAS a stockholder.