New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-26
Export Ban and
Car Ruling May
End Coal Crisis
Interstate Commerce Body
Orders an Embargo and
Priority Is Effected in
> ments of Fuel
N. Y. Utilities Unite Forces
Railroads Proffer Aid:
l,4OO Carloads Held in
N. j.; Prosecutions Seen

Relief from the coal shortage
threatening to shutdown public utili-
ties here and cripple industries along
the Atlantic seaboard became apparent
yesterday with the announcement of
the following Developments:
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion will make public an order on
Monday providing for priority coal
shipments to New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore, the three cities most
seriously affected by the shortage.
An order of the commission shutting
or coal exports to Europe and giving
priority coal shipments to New Eng
land was made public. The order
went into effect Thursday night
Local Situation Surveyed
The local situation was gone over
in detail at a meeting of railway ex-
ecutives, public utility heads and rep
resentatives of the Public Service Com
mission. The meeting was held at
the Offices of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road.
The railroads were represented by
A. H. Smith, president of the New
York Central; Samuel Rea, president
of the Pennsylvania, and w. G. Bessler,
president of the Central Railroad of
New Jersey. Daniel Willard, president
of the Baltimore & Ohio, also was
present during part of the conference.
Representatives of the public utili-
ties included j. w. Lieb, vice-president
and general manager Of the New York
Edison Company; w. R. Addicks, vice.
president of the Consolidated Gas
Company. W. Leon Pepperman, assist
ant to the president of the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company; w.
S. Menden, general manager for the re-
ceiver of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company, and G. W. Elliott, of the
National Committee on Gas and Elec-
trio Service. Representatives of the
Philadelphia Electric Company and the
Public Service Corporation of New
Jersey also attended. The Public Serv-
Acting Commjs jssioner Alfred M. Bar
rett, Secretary James B. Walker and
Electrical Engineer R. H. Nexsen.
Plan Steps to Supply Coal
Definite steps to meet the present
emergency and insure a supply of coal
sufficient to keep the New York utili-
ties in continued and efficient opera
tion were discussed.
The representatives of all the utili-
ties presented figures showing the
exact amount of coal on hand and the
amount needed to insure continued
operation and to build up storage
stocks in advance of the fall and winter
requirements.
Mr.. Lieb, of the Edison Company,
speaking for all the New York utili-
ties, said they had agreed to stand
together in the crisis and to lend power
or coal to each other, if necessary, to
prevent the shutting down of opera
tions of any of them.
Mr.. Willard explained the situation
as it affected the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the railroads. He said
the railroads would do the best they
could to supply cars to move coal from
the mines, and would take every posi-
BILE step to see that New York utilities
got enough to keep them going until
the remedial measures Of the commits
sion could take effect.
Mr.. Willard cited as the chief of
these recent order Of the commission
requiring the New York companies to
use all open-top cars for coal transpor-
tation only. He estimated that the
carrying out of this order will increase
CONTINUED on page seven)