The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-17
IS STRIVING TO
DISTRIBUTE COAL
DIR. Garfield RedOubles Eff
forts to Relieve the Ma
tiOn-Wide Suffering
TRANSPORTATION
is GREAT PROBLEM
Householders to Get Coal First, Even
If Industries Are Forced to Close -
100000 Men Idle in Cleveland, Where
Big Plants Are Shut Down.


WASHINGTON, Dee. I7.-Rcports
Of almost nationwide suffering due to
lack of coal has stirred fuel admins
tration officials yesterday to redou-
bled efforts to release supplies held on
tracks by car congestion. Orders went
forth to fuel administration representa-
tives in the Middle West to make ev
cry attempt to move coal to points de-
clared to be facing actual coal famine.
A. w ThomI son, chairman Of the OPP
Grating committee of eastern railroads,
was called into conference by Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield for suggestions as
to relieving the situation.
Or. Garfield named G. r. Moriarity
general director Of the Middle Western
Coal shippers Terminal Pool associa
ton. Mr.. Moriarity Will work with
Homer johnson, federal fuel admins
traitor for Ohio, and W X Prudden,
administrator for Michigan.
After his conference with DR.. Gar
field, Mr.. Thompson said the situation
was serious. but that his committee
was making great progress toward re
lieving congestion il the Pittsburgh Ter
minal territory. The full effect Of the
committees efforts, he said, would not
! become apparent for several days.
/ Word has been received from the
! New York health department within
I q dag or two, according TO one report
i that there was suffering in some see
tious Of the city, and that the increased
! number Of cases Of pneumonia was
! ehargoable in part to the lack Of fuel
/ Many eases Of suffering involving chill
dtJn ia the congo ted districts hav,
been reported, il was said. The fnc
administration j. confident that con
ditioas in New YORK win be relieved
with the movement Of coal shipment,
held up in Jersey City hy the eonges
ti1u of river atlie.
To relieve the situation in Michigan
solid tfaialoads OF coal are being SEN
fr m Kentucky aud Ohio lake ports
+ Chairman Thompson and Administrat9
Garfield went over the whole transl or
tation question as il affects coal yer,
rxhau lively, with the result that witt
the roarrangemcnt of shipments on rail
shorter ones viii reach the territory
and also eliminating the so-calle,
''eross' haul, ST me Immediate i'm
pfovcment IN the situation is hopot
for. The result Of the plan would b.
to supply coal 10 localities from tn
nearest producing o. shipping ccnto.
instead Of over the lines of ordinar.
trade.
Fuel Administrator johnson report
Cd from Cleveland that he had START
81 GO carloads Of coal into that cit,
! whore 100000 mon were idle bccau-
Of the shutting down OF plants lack
e ing power. Mr.. Johpson. who has T.
: ceived fun power III the matter Of ii,
4. tribution. said he would supply house
, holders first, even if it forced indu.
tries 20 close down.
of the weather remains severe,
he telegraI he'd, ''uy opinion is tina
all industries, no matter how impol
tant, should, except in eases of Wit;
importance for keeping plants war;
or maintaining refrigeration or som,
thing oil that sort, give way to dome
tie needs. The miners are not loadin.
and the emergency viii become grave
unless the weather moderatea N, o,
fee is distributing all the lake 60;
available to domestic consumers. an
| we are trying to make a trainload IL
| country distribution for the northwc.
| part Of the state. -
Tho fuel administration turned /
the ear service commission for aid j
getting coal to shipbuilding plants
: Cleveland, Lorain, and Detroit, whol
RI - merchant vessels are under col
s.ruction for the government. tt
head Of the plant wired Yesterday III;
he would be forced TO suspend Opera
tions unless he received fuel immcd
II atclv.
Reports from New York said tn;
the Bethlehem Shipbuilding company
u running on short time because theI