New-York tribune., 1920-02-16
Freeze Renews
Peril of Food
Famine i'm CITY
Mayor Yields Pick in Lead
ing Thousands of Men
in Battle Against Snow,
but T,iakes Little Headwav

New York's volunteer army Of snow
fighters, headed by Mayor Hylan with
brand-new pick in his hand, met such
serious reverses before the forces of
Winter yesterday afternoon that the
city's food supply again is endangered.
The hard freeze of the afternoon
turned soft ice and snow into a flint
like substance that defed the attacks
OF shovel and pick men, closed water
covered manholes and in some in
stances prevented the opening of
sewers.
Streets in the market districts, which
were the objects of concentrated ef-
forts on the part of nearly $4,000 men,
are in practically the same condition
they were in at the close of business
Saturday. The work of snow fighters
in other parts of the city have been
virtually nullifed by the renewed
freeze.
Food Trains Stalled
Long trains of cars filled with fresh
food, ships loaded with supplies for
the city and pyramids of the same class
OF edibles that were to have been
moved to stores throughout the city
this morning will remain just where
they are. 1t was reported that many
vegetables were frozen. But, generally
speaking, the cold served to offer
natural refrigeration to the stored
foods, which were prevented from rot
ting because of the drop in tenn
perature.
Mayor Hylan marshalled his forces
IN the wholesale district on the lower
West Side early in the day, and undis-
mayed by the adventures of SATURDAY..
in which he aroused the wrath of one
teamster and escaped from that indi-
vldual only to get in the way of
stream from a fire hose, welded pick
wherever he thought worker needed
instruction.
The forces at his command. accord
ing to official figures given out from
the Offices of the Department of Streets
early in the evening, were divided in
this manner:
Regular street cleaners ers.......... $500
Extra employees " aS9X
Contractors men .................2 22OO
4uen on SeIicies. ................. 1000
American Legion ................,.. 20
Members of the American Legion
again demonstrated the fact that they
preferred facing an enemy that fought
with hrearms to attacking ice and
snow. or those who volunteered dur
ing IT, day only twenty actually were
accepted and put to work by the snow
| removal department. Nineteen of these
were in Manhattan, and the Bronx pro.
duced one lone Legion snow shoveler.
At the various mobilization points
Of the Legion it was explained that
the men who volunteered for service
| had, in some instances, worked with
| rolls, and thus were not credited with
the service.
Policemen Do Good Work
| Probably the most efficient work of
the day was that of the 1000 volun-
Commissioner Frederick A. Wallis,
dug into the ice of the market dis
trict. The Deputy Commissioner, ar
irving at the Beach street police sta
tion clad in fur coat, patent leather
shoes and the other requisites of a
morning appearance at church, was
furnished with canvas coat and
trousers. hip boots and cap.
until 4:30 O'Clock. Mayor Hylan, who
was in the district throughout the day,
carried pick, but used most of his
energy to arouse the fighting spirit"
| of the men.
"Why don't you work like those fell
lows 2" demanded His Honor of a gang
of laborers, pointing to the active
policemen.
rNo lika da mon'," answered the
foreman. eve getta da policeman's
pay, we do da policeman's work."
Mayor Hylan attempted to discourage
this mercenary spirit, but accomplished
little with this particular group Of
workers. Going to the North River
Hotel, at Barclay and West streets, he
found a group of men consuming cof-
fee and sandwiches.
"Give me the same," he said to the
waiter.
While his coffee was cooling he ad-
dressed the men informally over a
plate of sandwiches, calling attention
to the fact that such labor found it's
own reward in increased appetites. On
leaving the hotel the Mayor was
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