New-York tribune., 1922-08-27

Duty toNa1lle
A Fuel Head
Real Estate Board Says
Wartime Plan Should
Be Adopted TO Relieve
Present Coal Shortage

It is the duty Of the Legislature,
when 1t meets in special session 70
consider the coal question tomorrow
night, to authorize the Governor 20
appoint Il fuel commissioner or corn
mission with ample and drastic powers
to make and enforce the same OF SINH
lar regulations for the conservation
OF fuel that prevailed during the war,
says the Real Estate Board of New
YORK, in statement issued yester~
DAY. suggestions as to what steps
should be taken are also advanced.
There should be no unnecessary light
Or heat, and public utility companies
should be given preference in the aliot-
ment OF fuel, the report specifies A
sufficient allowance, it adds, should at
all times be made 70 gas and ELECTRIC
current companies to enable them 20
function 10 full capacity. Laws or
ordinances which would prevent the
use Of bituminous coal should be sus-
pended or repealed, and legislative
bodies CT municipalities should not be
permitted during the period of the
emergency to enact ordinances reeu-
latlng the use of fuel, nor should the
ordinances previously adopted be en-
forced, the statement declares.
Last year joint committee of the
Real Estate Board and the building
managers of New York City, CO.
operating with the City Board of
Health, made thorough investigation
into the entire coal question" IL
continues.
The committees report shows that
anthracite coal is found in quantity
only in Pennsylvania and that the an
nuai production is 10000, 900 tons. of
this amount 100000 is allotted to
greater New York.
Last year New York did rot receive
its full quota, although every effort
was made to supply it. Culm banks
were washed, creeks and rivers
dredged to obtain steaming coal, and
when last years strikes were over
every mine was worked TO full capacity.
This year nothing is being done.
The situation is worse than ever,
Should full production begin Septeni-
Der 1, and that is scarcely possible, as
many of the mines have been badly
damaged, not more than 10000. .0frf
tons of anthracite could be produced
by January 1. Greater New York's
share of this amount would be 3,9O0.-
600 tons, although the probability is
that New England and the North and
Northwest would be served first and
New York later. Up to the present
New York has not had more than
100000 tons of it's allotment for
1922 and it needs 100000 tons
additional.
"The railroads, furthermore, are not
in position to transport the full
output Of the anthracite mines. The
executives admit that equipment is not
up to the proper standard So il is
certain that soft coal must be used
in increasing quantities where anthra-
cite, for domestic purposes, was used
exclusively.
at may also be necessary to obtain
coal from abroad, and the foreign coal
Is bituminous. The sanitary code in
New York City must therefore be
amended or its provisions for soft coal
usage suspended temporarily.
"Ail punitive sumptuary legislation
against the landlord for not furnishing
heat or hot water should be modified
or repealed during existing conditions.
The tenant has an ample civil remedy,
and no landlord should be put in Jail
for not doing impossible things
SIN order to afford every possible aid
in obtaining coal during the short
age, committee has been created of
which J. P. Lonergan, chief inspector
of the Department of Health, is chair
man. The other members are Arthur
G. Somers, representing the Depart
ment of Education; j. L. Hernon, the
Building Managers Association; Ed
ward P. Doyle, of the Real Estate
Board Of New York, and William c.
Bergen. This committee viii work
with J. T. Birmingham, chairman of
the Anthracite Producers Committee.
| and will have the assistance OF the
,;& Iara