New-York tribune., 1920-10-17
Copeland will
Seize Coal If
Peril Exists
Health Commissioner Will
Disregard Bituminous
Regulation in City as
Long as Shortage Lasts
Survey Made of Yards
Bins Reported Low, Quail
iiy Bad; Board Is Named
to Police the Situation

Health Commissioner Copeland an
pounced yesterday that if the coal
shortage situation became so acute as
70 constitute a peril this winter, he
would not hesitate TO take full advan-
tace Of his police power and seize all
coal in the city.
He also announced that under pres
ent conditions the Health Department
would pay no attention TO the soft coal
regulation, which was designed to pre-
vent dense smoke in the city. lie said
he believed it more important that
heat be obtained, no matter what kind
of coal was used.
The Health Department is making a
careful survey of all the coal yards in
the city to ascertain the quantity and
quality Of coal stored there On Staten
Island the survey showed that none of
the thirty-cight yards had more than
fifty tons OF coal on hand, snd the av-
eraee was only twenty tons. The
quality In most of the yards consisted
OF NN!tfIiif%H- All tia1 a Sci :
complained Of the difficulty Of getting
coal from the mines The prices on
staten Island have been ranging from
SIS to s. ton.
In White Plains yesterday the price
Of coal reaches ..s highest mark when
one yard quoted it at $3.50 a ton. The
average price, accordini to the dealers,
is SIS ton Even at that price they
declare they are making profit of only
50 cents d ton.
The coal relief bureau established by
Health Commissioner Copeland in CO.
operation with the Coal Merchants AS
ISOLATION has received requests from
200 landlords for coal. Commi ssioner
Copeland sad some of them had been
very part cuiar as to the kind of coal
they wanted. but he SAID they would
have to take any kind they could get.
Lewis Nixon. Public Service Commits
sioner completed the appointment of
the committee that will police the coal
situation OF the public utilities corpo-
rations n New York City. The com
mittee compr ses Frank Hedlcy, presi-
dent and general manager Of the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company; John
". L.eb, vicc-Ores dent and general
manager @ the New York Edison Com
pany, and N. s. Sloan. president of the
Brooklyn Edison Company
The committee is charged with see
ing that sufficient supply Of coal is
obtained for all the public utilities in
tie city during the coming winter, and
Of preventing the misuse of prori-
ties for cars and of coal permits.
Mr. Sloan told the commissioner that
the Brooklyn Edison Company needed
10000 tons q month. but had been
able to contract Cor only 35 900 tons,
and was not sure this would be de
livered lie declared the company
would have TO 20 into the open mar
ket to build up Is reserve supply sui
aceu' for tN o MONTHS
Charles $. Alen, secretary of the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association Of
New York. in statement yesterday
declared the recent decline in the price
Of bitumnous coal would be followed
by much more decided drop within
a short time This statement was
made despite the reports that prices
were increasing generally in the sub
urbs OF the city. 1t was made, he
announced, upon the consensus of opin-
ion of members of that association
after the action this week of Attorney
General Palmer
According to the statement the At
torney General on Wednesday wired the
president o' the National Coal Associa-
ZION ASKING that official TO use his in
huenca a having the association adopt
Sc O., ree0iUtsons similar to those
adopted hy the operators Of northern
West Virginia. which reduced the price
Of GOA at the mines in that section
from Sl4 TO SIS.
The statement declared these resolu-
tions adopted BY the West Virginia
operators we're modelled from set
previously adopted by the Wholesale
Coal Trade Association Of New York,
to end protiteering in soft coal in this
city.
Mr.. Aliens statement further says:
Although no action was taken by the
National Coal Association, which was
address sed by William McMurtrie Speer,
OF the Department of Justice, who is
~ charge Of ocai activities, the matter
vas placed in the hands OF the Federal
relations committee of the associate on,
and the trade in general yesterday an
Nounced the firm belief that the adop-
non OF tine resolutions would soon be
come reality. The National Associa-
uon numbers among its members more
'nan 1000 operators, including the big
gest producers in the country, and if
tne adoption of the resolutions has an
ehect similar to that which occurred
IN northern West Virginia a sharp de
@ e'.ne ln prices throughout the country
Will follow"