New-York tribune., 1920-02-07
Tie-Up Sunday
Ii Relief ails
In Fuel Crisis
Continued from page I

day dictated a memorandum giving
public utility corporations first prior
lty. so II coal is available they will be
able to operate. All tidewater coal dis
tribution at New York is within the
Jurisdiction of the Allegheny Regional
Director, so New York is directly in
terested in Nh Fishers action.
Storms Help in Conservation
"The snowoound condition of the
streets has had the effect of reducing
service on the surface systems. and
their use of current and hence of coal
is much less than usual and this has
helped the coal situation OF the trans
portation companies.
"The former Public Service Commits
sion fixed as the coal reserve to be
raintained by the lnterborough 5000
tons at the Fifty-ninth Street power
house and 1900 tons at the Seventy
fourth Street power station. Efforts
will be made to bring this reserve up
10 5000 tons at each station. These
reserves will be kept constant, if pos
,ible
I'VE shall ask the B. R. 7. to build up
q reserve of 1000 tons az its Williams
burg power station.
I'VE can with confidence look for
ward to service OF rapid transit lines
till Sunday morning at least"
United States Senator William III.
Calder took prompt action following
the receipt o. a dispatch from Public
Service Commissioner Nixon on Thurs
day asking for his assistance in re-
lieving the coal situation. Senator
Calder to-day sent to Commissioner
Nixon the following telegram:
"Have just placed before Director
Hines critical situation in New York
City concerning the immediate need
of coal for public utilities and he has
promised me that immediate attention
will be given the matter and has sug-
gested that you take up the matter
with Mr.. Harding, Regional Director
in New York City. Mr.. Hines assured
me that his Office would see to it that
sufficient coal was obtained in New
York
Fuel Stored for Homes
The one ray of hope held out by the
situation was the assurance that apart
ment houses ard homes Will not be
: without fuel because of the present
famine. The domestic classes of an
thracitc coal had been stored already
in sufficient quantities to carry the city
through just such an emergency.
In spite of this fact it was learn ed
that the owners OF numerous apart
ment houses were attempting to econ
omize on fuel by announcing that they
either had none, or were ordered to
cut down on hours for heating their
buildings. Officials in touch with the
situation declared that such owners
were making these statements for sell
fish reasons only and that the occu-
pants of their houses would be justi-
fed in taking action against them.
Amadee j. Casey, editor of "The
American Coal Journal" issued the
following statement yesterday:
THAT there is no cause for alarm in
the domestic or anthracite fuel situa-
ton in New York City is indicated by
reports of the larger retail coal dealers,
showing stocks we'll up to normal and
all requirements being filled as prompt
ly as hauling conditions will permit.
"While the soft or bituminous coal
supply is greatly restricted by harbor
conditions, labor shortage at the docks
and the lack of cars for bringing coal
from the mines, these things in no way
threaten the supply of anthracite. Coal
wards are sufficiently we'll stocked to
meet any abnormal demands which
might arise from continued severe
weather.
with heavy snow blocking the
streets, distribution is being made un-
der great difficulties, but by working
a night shift Of their delivery forces
dealers are filling all orders on their
books Consumers are not clamorlng
for coal, and this is the best indication
that adequate supplies we're laid In by
most householders as result OF the
buy early campaign which the coal
trade carried on last summer and fall.
"Although bituminous coal famine
may seriously cripple transportation
facilities here, there is no evidence OF
any scarcity Of fuel for domestic pur-
poses"
The entire problem of fueling the
country will be discussed by experts
at the annual meeting of the American
Institute Of Metallurgical Engineers,
which will be held here on February
II. Government officials as we'll as
members of the organization will take
I'D practically every phase Of the coal
situation in speeches.