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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