September 9. 1922





RECORD   AND    GUIDE





325







Perplexities of the Coal Situation

Now that the strikes have been settled in the an¬
thracite as well as in the bituminous coal fields, the
next question is: Can consumers be protected from
gouging by coal profiteers?

Suspension of mining five months has led to such a
shortage in the usual supply as to make impossible any
near return to total normal production for the coming
winter's requirements. No matter how glad the idle
miners may be to return to work, and no matter how
anxious the operators may be to resume the marketing
of coal, the loss of production during the five months
cf the strike cannot be overcome in the short period
that will elapse before winter's coldest weather comes.
If production can be speeded up during September, Oc¬
tober and November that will aid greatly in alleviating
the situation, but Mr. Consumer, whether he requires
fuel to heat his own home, an apartment house, a
hotel, an office building or a factory, must become
reconciled to the cold facts of the situation. Indica¬
tions are that it will now be possible to get through
the winter months without actual hardship and dis¬
tress, but it also is apparent that all consumers will
have to burn carefully such coal as will be available
and to substitute other fuel wherever possible.

About the only thing the Government can do to re¬
lieve consumers is to function capably against profiteer¬
ing in coal and against favoritism in its distribution.
The Washington authorities are giving evidence of
their determination to do what they can along these
lines. In so far as New York is concerned, the official
machinery is being organized with most commendable
promptness and with a thoroughness which promises a
full measure of protection to the coal users of the
Empire State. There is reason to feel that such sup¬
plies of coal as are allotted to New York will be dis¬
tributed with care, and the new State law certainly is
drastic enough so that Coal Administrator Woodin
should be able to hold profiteers in check.

In view of the low state of the nation's coal supply,
however, the New York authorities must exert every
effort if they are to get allotments of coal in keeping
with the acute necessities of the greatest state in the
Union.





Deadlock Threatens New Subways

Not in years has there come up a more important
question in municipal affairs than how soon and by
what means New Yorkers are to get relief from the
intolerable conditions existing on the city's transit lines.
After months of preparation by the most competent
engineers in the service of the Transit Commission and
of the Mayor two schemes have been presented to the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment, each aiming to
add to the present facilities such extensions as may
make them more serviceable and projecting new lines
to relieve the old ones, as well as to cover territory





within the city limits now not adequately served. While
the routes suggested in these two plans vary in some
respects, the fundamental difference between the pro¬
posals emanating from Mayor Hylan and from the
Transit Commission is as to the method of financing
and operation. Mayor Hylan proposes the "recapture"
of existing subways, the elimination of surface and
elevated systems and municipal operation, and the
Transit Commission the continuation, with certain mod¬
ifications, of the present method of construction and
operation.

Now that both plans have been made public there is
opportunity for comparing them and this should be
taken advantage of to the fullest degree. Criticism
or endorsement should be withheld until there has been
careful weighing of the superiority or difficulties in¬
herent to each project. In studying the plans no ques¬
tion of political expediency should be allowed to creep
in. To seek party advantage when the interests of
every man, woman and child in the city are at stake
will most certainly react politically against those at¬
tempting it.

One of the things, however, that must be taken into
consideration is that whatever are the comparative
merits of the two plans, one is put forward in accord-
,-ince with existing law and the other in protest to
present contracts with the necessity of radical amend¬
ments to the law and changes in public policy, both
with respect to the authority of the State over mu¬
nicipal affairs and in the conduct by the city of its own
business. Municipal ownership and operation, on which
Mayor Hylan's plan is based, can only become possible
after many changes in the fundamental laws of the
state and the ordinances of the city.

The Board of Estimate has the power to block any
proposal not acceptable to it, but it has no power to
originate plans for subway extensions. It can disap¬
prove the program of the Transit Commission, but it
cannot bring about the acceptance of Mayor Hylan's
plan. With politics rampant there is danger that a
deadlock may result from which every New Yorker
will suffer. There is need, then, for the pressure of
public opinion to force the laying aside of every per¬
sonal or partv consideration in the study of both plans
for subway extension, and the substitution therefor of
high-minded examination and wise decisions so that the
jmblic may be served well and quickly.





Four Decades of Electrical Progress

Forty years ago this week the first electric lighting
central station in the world was put in oper-.'.tion by
Thomas .\. Edison. This station was located at 257
Pearl street, in Manhattan, and on its first day of
operation 1,284 incandescent lamps were connected, 400
of which were in use before the day was over. At the
present  time,  in  corresponding units,  the  installation