736





RECOKD   AND   GUIDE





November 27, 1920





New York's Coal Supply Will Be Normal by December 15

Committee  Representing  Beal  Estate   Board, Building Managers and Owners
Association and Board of Health Investigates Supply and Schedule of Prices





A JOINT committee on coal for New York City compris¬
ing the following organization, the Real Estate Board
of New York, the Building Managers' and Owners' As¬
sociation, the Advisory Council of Real Estate Interests and
the Board of Health of the City of New York, has made a
thorough   investigation  of  the  coal  situation.

The committee found that the normal weekly production of
anthracite and bituminous coal averaged since 1915 was in net
tons: anthracite coal, about 1,850,000 tons; bituminous, 12,-
000,000 tons, or about 90,000,000 tons anthracite and 600,000,000
tons bituminous a year. This supply if maintained and fur¬
nished with adequate means of transportation would be suf¬
ficient to take care of all the needs of the country.

The committee has received an assurance that if the Inter¬
state Commission is given a list of anthracite mines whose
product had been contracted for but not delivered to dealers
in Greater New York, the Commission would force delivery.
As to bituminous coal, there was abundant production and
abundant supply, and the prices charged consumers are now
reasonable and fair. The Anthracite Producers' Association
told the committee that production is now normal and that
there is an abundant car supply. Constant labor troubles in
the spring and summer, both in the mines and on the trans¬
portation lines had prevented the production and distribution
of the normal allotment to New York City. Up to October 1,
the latest figures obtainable, New York had only received
2,310,000 tons of anthracite against its allotment from the Coal
Producers' Association of 8,000,000 tons. It would be neces¬
sary to ship approximately 1,000,000 tons a month to New
York during the next six months, and to prevent a shortage
1,200,000 tons a month should be shipped during October, No¬
vember and December. The committee was told that there
was every reason to believe that by December 15, 1920, the
coal emergency as far as New York City was concerned would
have passed. The committee investigated the causes of the
present high prices of anthracite coal, especially of domestic
sizes. The causes are the greater difficulty in mining as the
mines become deeper and more extended ; the greater cost of
shoring and pumping, in some instances fifteen or twenty times
as many tons of water as of coal removed; the cost and in¬
efficiency of labor; the inexcusable strikes, vacations and holi¬
days; faulty administration of car service; excessive royalties
paid   owners   of   coal   lands   which,   based   on   Girard   Estate





leases, are on a percentage basis, and increase as the cost
of mining and price of coal increases so that some collieries
pay $1.26 per ton royalty; the purchase of coal at mines by
speculators and middlemen, who sell a car over and over
again before it reaches the consumer; profiteering by retail
dealers; the excessive cost of delivery from the yard to the
consumer.

The committee found that the cost of anthracite coal loaded
on cars at the mines averaged about $7 per ton, the average
freight was $2.62 per ton, and the cost of transportation in
New York harbor 50 cents a ton. This made the cost at the
wharf on the Manhattan or Brooklyn or Bronx water front
$10.12, or not to exceed $11.15 in the yard for a gross ton.

In the opinion of the committee prices charged for domestic
sizes in Manhattan yards—$12.75 to $13.50 and $14—were fair.
In its opinion prices beyond this are excessive prices.

The committee recommends the following:

That deflnite and enforcable contracts be made with the mines direct
or witli duly authorized distributing agents by the local coal distributors
for weekly deliveries beginning April 1st of each year.

That steps be taken at once for the establishment of reserve storage
yards sufficient to contain at least one month's supply of coal. The
results of a complete cessation of coal delivery for a month would be
appalling.

That State Legislation be enacted for the incorporation of labor unions
and trade organizations and that strikes or lockouts unless authorized
by a majority vote of the organizations, either labor unions or business
and takon-by secret ballot under the supervision of local election ofllclals
be  declared   felonies.

That before such ballot be taken two weeks' proper legal notice be
given the members of such organizations and the public generally.

That by mutual agreement zones of delivery be flxed by the local coal
distributors so as to preclude if possible long delivery routes with their
delay  and  expense.

That during a coal emergency such as now exists, priority orders be
issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission for coal shipments to
great centres of population such as New York or Chicago.

That the Anthracite Producers' Association be requested to direct their
constituent members to sell coal only to regularly established dealers or
distributors. Thu temporary gain by sales to outlaws is more than counter
balanced by the resulting discontent of consumers and of the public
generally   through   improper   distribution   and   profiteering.

Edward P. Boyle, Chairman (representing the Real Es¬
tate Board of New York),
Arthur C. Bang, Joseph L. Herman, B. H. Belknap (rep¬
resenting the Building Managers' and Owners' Asso¬
ciation).
NOTE—The Board of Health was represented by J. L. Lon¬
ergan, acting for Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Health Commissioner.
The Department concurs in this report, except as to Recom¬
mendations No. 3 and 4, to which Dr. Copeland did not feel
justified in committing the city administration.





Prizes and Diplomas Awarded at Fifth Avenue Association Dinner





THE Fifth Avenue Association, after a careful study and
inspection of buildings constructed or altered in the
Fifth Avenue district during the year, awarded fovir
prizes and eight diplomas at its annual dinner at the Waldorf-
Astoria Hotel, Thursday evening, November 11. The district
includes, in addition to the avenue, Madison avenue and the
connecting side streets.

The gold medal and diploma for the best building con¬
structed, in the opinion of the committee, was awarded to Jay-
Thorpe, Inc., for its building at 24 West 57th street. Buchman
& Kahn were the architects, in each case awarded a diploma.

The silver medal and diploma for the second best new con¬
struction went to Douglas L. Elliman for the building at 15
East 49th street.   Cross & Cross were the architects.

The gold medal and diploma for the best altered building were
awarded to the Guaranty Trust Company for the building at 522
Fifth avenue.    Cross & Cross were the architects.

The silver medal and diploma for the second best altered
building were awarded to Edward I. Farmer, at 16 East 36th
Street.   Trowbridge & Ackerman were the architects.
The Architectural Harmony Committee of the Fifth Avenue





Association, which made the awards, consisted of three archi¬
tects and three laymen, the former designated by the American
Institute of Architects, the latter directors in the association.

The architects were Robert D. Kohn, C. Grant La Farge and
H. Van Buren Magonigle. The others were Walter Stabler,
controller of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company;
Douglas L. Elliman, president of the Douglas L. EUiman Co.,
real estate, and Michael  Dreicer, jeweler.

The harmony of new buildings and alterations with the
dignity of the district formed the basis of the awards.





The raising of the $28,000,000 required by the Board of
Education for the coming year, in addition to the $50,000,000
in the 1921 budget, was considered at a joint meeting of the
Board of Education and the Board of Estimate, at which
Frank B. Gilbert, Deputy State Superintendent of Education,
was also present. It was finally decided that the Mayor should
appoint a sub-committee of three members of each board to
consider the matter further and to report to the Board of
Estimate.