The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-22
PETERBOROUGH
HAS COAL ONLY
FOR TWO DAYS
Richmond Gas Co.'S Plight
Worse, It's Bins Being
Entirely Empty.
STOCKS TO BE POOLED
Public Service Concerns
With Supplies to Lend
Fuel to Others.
1927 TONS DROP IN WEEK
Copeland Sends Inspector to
Washington to Obtain
Priority Action.
STOCKS TO BE POOLED
1927 TONS DROP IN WEEK

Reports made yesterday TO Lewis
Nixon, Public Service Commissioner,
of the amount of bituminous coal in
the bins of the several public utility
corporations in this city as of Oc-
tober 19, showed that the New York
and Richmond Gas Company of Staten
Island has none in stock, while the
Peterborough Rapid Transit Company
reported a supply of only $685. tons,
or about two days quota. The Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company is in
somewhat better position, with enough
fuel to last eleven days.
According to the figures of the
fourteen companies reporting weekly
to the Commissioner, the aggregate
amount OF soft coal they had on hand
on October 10 was 6,327 tons less than
their total of October 10, the entire
reserve having shrunk from 447,S72
tons to 441,545 tons during the inter-
vening week. 1t is clear, therefore,
that supply is not keeping pace with
consumption. Study of the relative
figures shows interesting contrasts.
or the entire stocks held by the four
teen companies. 441,5 45 tons. nearly one
quarter, or 103.0 03 tons, was in the
hands OF the Consolidated Gas Company,
which reported enough coal to last ia
days. The equally important INTERIOR
ough Rapid Transit system. on the other
hand, was reduced to scant two days
supply.
Queensborough in Good Shape.
Next to the Consolidated Gas Com
pany in point of good fortune appeared
to be the electrical department of the
Queensborough Gas and Electric Com
pany, with enough coal TO keep its dyna-
mos whirling for sixty-eight days, and
the Brooklyn Edison Company. Inc. one
of the corporations now under Federal
indictment. which reported that 1t mad
on hand 1871 tons. or enough to last
fifty EIGHT days. The New York Edison
Company. including the United Electric
Light and Power Company, has 142, 63S
IA thirty-one days supply.
In view of these dsparities it was an
nounced yesterday by NJ. 5. Sloan. for
the Commissioners New York fuel dis
tribution committee. that the public SER
vice companies in New York which have
coal supplies on hand will make every
effort to see that other less fortunate
utility corporations in this city shall be
tided safely over periods when n shut
down of service seems imminent In
other words, the utility companies vir-
tually will pool their bituminous sup
piles I'm the public interest rather than
permit any of their number to face
fuel famine.
Mr. Sloan. who is president OF the
Brooklyn Edison Company. Inc, gave
publicity to that policy al the end of
the hearing which was continued yester-
day before Mr.. Nixon. He was speak
ing for the committee recently appoint
ed by the Commissioner to police" the
coal situation for the public utility cor
porations of this district.
81 believe It to be the spirit OF this
committee" said Mr.. Sloan, that no
public utility company shall be COM
PEELED TO shut down service for lack OF
coal and that the utmost effort must be
exerted by us to pool our resources, If
necessary to that end"
Rfcbmond Situation Is Acute.
The subject was brought to an acute
head when Commissioner Nixon an
nounced that the New York and Rich
slond Gas Company had been In dire
straits for coal during the last week.
and that at one time its supply was so
far depleted that II faced an imminent
SHUTDOWN. MT. sloan Sdlu the bTOOh-
lyn Edison Company had endeavored to
tide the Staten Island corporation over
It's crisis by supplying coal to It from
the Brooklyn Edison concerns storage
yard on Staten Island.
IL was further announced that the
members of Commissioner Nixon's fuel
distribution committee would go to
Washington soon for a conference with
ID. w. Elliott, secretary Of the national
committee on gas and electric service.
who has promised that the New York
utility corporations shall not be left
without an adequate supply Of fuel 1t
is felt to be highly important that pro-
vision should be made for a more ade-
quate reserve.
DR.. Royal S. Copeland, Health Com
missioner, also shares that feeling. He
announced that he Is sending 60 WASH
ington Joseph Lonergan, his chief in
spector, to confer with the Interstate
Commerce authorities and to urge imme-
date steps to move coal to the relief of
This city. If no other measures appear
10 be feasible n priority service order
in favor OF New York may be requested
in the interest of safeguarding the pub
lie health.