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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.