New-York tribune., 1920-02-14
Business to Halt TODAY
as 10000 Members of
American Legion Re-
\ spond to Mayors Call
$2,290,OO0 Voted
To Clean Streets
Coal Shortage Also Is
Menace and Fire Danger
Looms as Great Peril

Confronted with the double men.
ace of a food and fuel famine, bust
ness in Manhattan will come to 6
virtual standstill to-day, in order tc
permit use of every available man in
the task of clearing the streets fol
traffic.
City officials and business men de-
cided that only the most drastic
measures would meet the situation
was found that the city's supply of
fresh food was almost at an end and
that means of delivery of the food
already in the Manhattan markets
were useless in the face of the snow
clogged streets.
Means Taken to End Menace
Action that Immediately followed
may be summed up thus:
Appropriation by the Board of
Estimate of $2,29o,oo0 to be used in
clearing the streets for the delivery
of the necessities of life.
The summoning of the American
Legion to aid in the task of clear
ing away the snow and ice, with the
result that not fewer than 10000 Of
the Legion's membership are ex-
pected to swing shovels and picks
in the city to-day.
The calling of conference of
market and fresh food dealers by
Health Commissioner Copeland for
the purpose of devising means of
keeping up emergency delivery of
fresh foods.
Announcement by the Master
Truckmen's Association that their
trucks would be withdrawn from
service to-day unless streets were
made passable and that they would
remain in until the streets were
cleared.
Fire Hose Works Wonders
Last night. after appealing to the
American Legion for aid, Mayor Hylar
conferred with Fire Commissioner
brennan. At the conclusion of their
talk Mr.. brennan issued a special cal
to Engine Company Is, ordering them
to street cleaning duty with hose ano
shovel.
The hose was coupled to a high
pressure hydrant. Twelve men clune
to it as it writhed like python under
the kick of water at 140 pounds press
ure. The heavy stream was turned or
the hummocked surface of Liberty
Street almost impossible because OF
slush and Jumps Of snow-ice.
The pack had been softened by tho
warm day. 1t broke and melted away
before the tearing force of the hose
stream Other fremen with lone
handled shovels and bars broke up the
large pieces as they foated into the
cutters and kept the opening of the
sewers clear.
In fifteen minutes the men with the
hose had accomplished more than four
times their number could have done in
several hours with pick and shovel.
"The greatest piece Of work the city
has seen in some time," Mayor Hylan
told Commissioner brennan and Fire
Chief Kenlon, who, with him, were
spectators.
After the crossing at Liberty Street
and Broadway had been cleared, the
firemen moved into Wall Street, flush
Nassau streets. Pine, Liberty, Cort-
landt and Dey were treated in the same
way.
Until an early hour this morning, the
firemen were still at work. Chief Ken
Ion continued his supervision.
The conference called by DR.. Cope
land resulted from the announcement
of the truckmen that the city would
have no food delivery to-day unless
some action was taken Immediately
II. H. Jones, of the State Department,
of Food and Markets, Immediately
called upon the Health Commissioner
and notified him of the threatened fam.
inc of fresh supplies. DR.. Copeland
then called the market men to the
office of Mayor Hylan at City Hall.
Mayor Hylan meanwhile had sent 8
letter to Adjutant Wade H. Hayes. o.