New-York tribune., 1920-10-31
Cold Weather
Bares Big Coal
Shortage Here
Sixty Per Cent of Bronx
Apartment Houses Are
Without Fuel; 100000
Tons Needed Immediately
200 Tenants Complain
Shipments to City for Week
Ending Oct. Is Show
Drop of 1858 Tons

The first snap of cold weather showed
the coal shortage in the city to be
serious, and complaints from tenants
began to arrive at the Health Depart
ment Sixty per cent of the apartment
houses in the Bronx are without coal,
and the landlords have been unable to
obtain supplies.
How serious the shortage of coal in
this city has been was emphasized yes
tcrday in a statement issued by Public
Service Commissioner Lewis Nixon.
which showed that on October % the
lnterborough Rapid Transit Company
had on hand but one days supply, con-
sisting of 2.700 tons. The Interborough
since has increased this margin to four
days supply.
The report shows that during the
week ended October IS the public
utilities OF the city received 33,953 tons
of coal less than the previous week
The danger Of the situation so far as
the utility corporations are concerned,
however, has been eliminated by the
formation of the coal committee by
Commissioner Nixon, which mas agreed
to a pooling of resources if necessary
Two Hundred Tenants Complain
DR.. Arthur J. OLeary, Health Off
Ger of the Bronx, announced that more
than two hundred tenants had lodged
complaints that their apartments were
not properly heated. Eight inspectors
were sent to investigate.
The report of these Investigators
shows that the Bronx faces the posi-
biity Of serious discomfort during the
next few weeks unless the weather is
warm. Even the coal dealers in that
borough have not been able to obtain
shipments. The present need Of the
landlords Of the Bronx is placed at
100000 tons
Although the investigation of the
health inspectors showed that the land
lords had not been able to obtain coal,
all those landlords whose prem ises
were found to be below fifty degrees
IN temperature were served with sum-
mcnses under the section of the new
rent laws that makes it obligatory to
supply heat. DR.. OLeary said this step
nad been taken in order TO let the
courts decide upon the question of cul-
pability in each case
Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Commissioner
Of Health, issued correspondence that
shows serious disagreement in
statements made by the Interstate
Commerce Commission aud the An
thracite Bureau of Information re
gardng the cause OF shortage in this
city. Joseph NJ. Lonergan, chief in
spector OF the Health Department, in
making his report to DR.. Copeland. says
that +. W. Parker director of the
Anthracite Bureau, accuses the Inter-
state Commerce Commission of pass
ing the buck"
The letter written by f. 6. Robbins,
director of the Interstate Commerce
Commiss says there is TO ban on
shipments Of anthracite to this city,
and declared the problem is one Of dis
trlbution and not of transportation, as
the anthracite mines have been fully
supplied with cars. Parker declares the
commission has had priority order on
shipment OF anthracite to Canada and
the Great Lakes region.
City Needs $4,000 900 Tons Year
The new citizens coal committee.
formed Of representatives Of real es-
tate bodies, civic organizations and the
Health Department, issued statement
reviewing the coal situation. 1t de-
clares that until the last three weeks
the shipments of coal here were
negligible, and that only within the lat
ter period has there been any attempt
to take care of the city's Is.
New York City needs annually l2.-
100000 tons of anthracite and G,000 600
tens OF bituminous COAL the statement
says. This would necessitatc weekly
delivery Of 100000 tons. During the
last three weeks there has been an
average delivery Of 1900 cars, or
approximately $4,000 gross tons Of
coal each week.
The committee announces its inten-
ticn to Investigate the reason why an
average Of 100000 tons is not allowed
weekly to this city and also "why there
is such a difference between a fair
rrice and the price charged
1t also will investigate the following:
Cost Of production Of anthracite and
tituminous at the mines; cost OF trans
Nortation to New York; cost Of unload
'ng and storing; cost of delivery to
consumers. The committee says that
no effort will be spared to get to the
bottom Of the question Of New York's
coal supply with a view Of eliminating
IN the future the yearly shortage Of
winter coal.