New-York tribune., 1922-12-29
Reserve Stocks Dwindle
as Emergency Demand
Rises; Fuel Frozen in
Cars Hampers Delivery
Drop in Mine Yield
Factor i'm Scarcity
WOOdin and DrummOnd
Cited TO Appear in Court
on Brooklyn Protest

The storm which fuel Administra-
tion officials have dreaded since the
beginning Of the coal shortage came
yesterday and found New York less
prepared than ever with reserve sup
plies OF fuel. Barely two days re-
serve stocks are available. including all
substitutes, such a. steam size snthra-
cite and soft coal
Figures on available supplies Of all
kinds OF coal for household use in
New York showed that the total was
slightly in excess OF 81 900 tons.
against normal requirements OF ap-
proximately 10000 tons daily. This
total includes 10000 tons Of buekwheat
and $4,000 tons Of soft coal, recon-
msnded as a substitute for domestic
size anthracite: $500 tons Of pea coal
and about 25.OOO tons Of egg, stove and
nut hard coal.
Coal Distribution Hlndered
The full effect Of the storm on coal
shipments will not be felt Tor a day
or two AZ least, II was said AZ the
fuel administration Office, but that the
effect will be serious IL not questioned.
In addition 20 throwing another burden
on the coal hauling roads. which are sui-
fsring from rundown equipment eaeh
step in the distribution OF the coal has
been made increasingly difficult. All Of
the coal in the ears during the storm
was frst water soaked and then frozen
tight, 80 that IL will be found impos-
sible to use steam scoops and other
unloading machinery when II reaches
the Jersey terminals. Coal In barges
on its way from the Jersey terminals
10 New York dealers has suffered In
the same way as did the soft coal be-
ing brought BY water from Hampton
Roads.
with new shipments thus retarded
the shortage OF reserve stocks is con
sidered a serious one. Little more
than a month ago Mayor Hylan issued
a statement calling attention 10 the
fact that the city had only four days
reserve Of coal and since that time
this reserve has been cut In half. The
dwindlinE Of the soft coal reserve
since that time is fair example,
William II. Woodin, State Fuel Admin
istrator, called attention then 70 the
large stocks Of soft coal and steam
size anthracite which were awaiting
buyers. In the succeeding four weeks
ths soft coal stocks Of 100000 tons naa
dropped 10 $1,000 tons.
priees Are Increased
Tn, diminishing stocks brought about
increasing prices. and IL is feared now
that unless receipts are materially IN
creased a runaway market will result.
The eagerness Of domestic consumers
for substitutes for anthracite has al
ready brought about n runaway market
In coke. Il was learned. Coke, which
was sold for Sc a ton. has jumped TO -
and IN beinR used almost exclusively
bv boussholders az that price. Blast
fnrnacea in the Pittsburgh and
Youn0stown steel districts have been
forced 10 shut down, IL was reported
because they we're unable 10 buy coke
in eompetition with domestic users.
The advance in the price Of soft coal
has been comparatively small In and
around Nev York. Production has been
reduced during the last two or thre,e,
weeks. 40 that the entire output OF All
bituminous mines is now about 10 GOO, o.
600 tons weekly, ns against i2,Ooo,ooo
tons, which has been the average pro
duetion since mining was resumed iol-
lowing the strike.
The Allied Civic Committee Of BROOK
lyn, which has declared open war on
Samuel j. Drummond, distriet iue1 40
ministrhtor for that borough, oolAlneu r.sa
which viii bring Mr.. Woodin and Mr.
Drummond before Supreme Court jus
tiee Cannon to-day. Both officials are
cited 10 show cause why a writ Of
msndamus should not be issued against
them requiring them to carry out the
provisions Of the emergency idel law
which the Allied Civic Committee con
tends they have thus far failed 10 no.