The New York herald., 1922-08-13
WHALEN ASKS COAL
TO RUN THE FERRIES
Sends Request to Washington
by Messenger-Expects
Prompt Action.
E. r. Il. GETS A RESPITE
Order for Increased Service
Revoked Owing to Coal
Shortage.
&. R. T. GETS A RESPITE

Application for coal 10 operate muni-
cipal ferries was made yesterday to the
Public Utilities subcommittee of the
Governors Emergency Coal Commission
by Grover A. Whalen, Commissioner OF
Plant and Structures.
The affidavit was signed and ap-
proved, according to commission Off
cials and forwarded to Washington by
special messenger yesterday afternoon,
where. expectation was. 1t Is being con-
sidered by Herbert Hoover, Secretary or
Commerce. and Fuel administrator
Spencer to-day. "Only a few hundred
tons" was asked for, 1t was said. Fed
erai action on applications has been TAX
ing only forty-eight hours this week.
This was said to be the first instance
where city department has availed
itself of the good offices of the tempo
rary state board or lined itself up with
the established Federal machinery.
b. r.. II. Gets Respite.
Because the 3. r. II. is short OF coal
and there is every reason to believe
that deliveries of that commodity will
be seriously delayed the Transit Com
mission has suspended it's order for in
CREASED service cn the Is. r. L. lines.
The order was to have been effective
August is. The suspension Us until
September IS, unless, on two weeks no
ticc, the commission decides that the
service can be increased on an earlier
date.
1t appears that the B. r. T. now has
about five days supply OF coal on hand.
Other coal has been ordered and is on
its way, but delays in delivery are con-
sidered certain. The commission be-
lieves that prudent administration re-
quires the conservation Of coal now on
hand which might be Llore quickly
used UP were the service materially in
creased.
Outline Needs Tomorrow.
Fuel needs Of city hospitals, schools,
public buildings and departments will
doubtless be outlined to the State fuel
officials by Monday. they said. Confer
ence OF Mayors of New York State
meets at the state headquarters, III
Broadway. at 145 Monday afternoon,
and the public service committee as
sembles an hour later to receive the
Mayors findings on rationing of coal
from a municipal viewpoint.
survey of the city's fuel condition
has been completed by the various de-
partments and forwarded to Commits
sioner Whalcn, head OF the Board of
Purchase, presumably for part reference
Monday. 1t was learned
Figures submitted by the Department
Of Health revealed that It's only pressing
need was at Otisville where the tuber-
cular sanatorium has only 100 tons of
anthracite on hand to meet an annual
need of 5000 tons. The Willard Parker,
Riverside and Kingston avenue, Brook
lyn, hospitals have 1900 tons each of
steam anthracite for seasonal con-
sumption OF 5000 tons. The Queens
borough Hospital has twenty tons of
egg anthracite but burns 200 tons a
year.
Milk stations Minor Problem.
The departments seventy milk stations
use three tons Of anthracite apiece and
have no coal on hand at all. but as one
ton to each station would carry 1t two
months. officials regarded this as a
minor problem.
The nineteen tubercular clinics In
Greater New York use fifteen tons of
anthracite apiece, but each has four to
five tons in the bin, it was said.
For lack of bids in response to recent
advertisements, Commissioner Whalen
yesterday asked Mayor Hyian to call a
special meeting next Tuesday of the
Board of Aldermen to give him au-
thority TO purchase city coal without
public letting. Otherwise he is re-
stricted by ordinance TO purchases not
in excess OF 81 900 of any material. Fear
on part OF coal dealers that they could
not live up to contracts had discouraged
bidding. according to the Commissioner,
who said he saw relief in the open mar
ket-
Mayor Hylan received a letter from
Alderman George u. Harvey who urged
appointment of an aldermanic commit
tee which should ''make hurried study
OF the situation" and have power 10
secure fuel and see that the same Is sold
TO the public at the price purchased by
| the city"