The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-21
CRISIS FACING
N. E. INDUSTRIES
Mills Are Crying Loudly for
Coal to Avert Neces-
sity of Closing
FALL RIVER AND
NEW BEDFORD
Dependent Upon the Grip
pied Water-Borne Traf-
fic for Fuel

Boston, Dec. 2l.-Public utilities com
panies and manufacturing plants in New
England are facing crisis in the matter
of fuel more acute than ever. Those that
are so situated geographically that they
have to depend upon the railroads to
keep them supplied with coal will be able
to keep the wheels going the longest, as
great quantities of coal are pouring into
New England by rail; but the port town
industries are at the mercy OF badly
crippled water service that cannot be de-
pended upon, even less so in the severe
winter weather than in the milder days
of the past.
The situation seems to be more severe
in Fall River than anywhere else, with
some so mills in that city demanding
coal, and many of them already depend
ent upon the daily arrivals. Some of the
mills were reported this week to have
only seven days supply of coal left, and
a poor outlook for the future. New Bed
ford is almost in the same situation with
her 30 mills.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford
railroad has not yet been reduced to the
necessity of curtaiing service, but it is
reported to be using more coal than it is
receiving for its own pockets, and it is |
only question of time when this com |
pany, like the Boston & Maine must re-
sort to the pruning process. There is no
danger lat either the Boston 4 Maine |
or Il wv Haven railroad will shut |
down course, because they are in a
position to take coal as long as any !
comes into New England The law gives
the railroads the right to confiscate and |
convert to their own use any coal that is
on their lines when they need it to sus-
tain operation, regardless of to whom
that coal is consigned.
Governor Mccall and James J. Storrow
We're in Washington yesterday in con
ference with the fuel administration,
relative to the fuel situation. They are
asking for government aid in increasing
the supply that comes by water from
Hampton Roads. They had conference
with DIR. Garfield yesterday afternoon at
80 o'clock.
Conservation of coal is now receiving
almost as much attention as are the eff
forts to secure additional supplies
Churches in some communities are being
urged to suspend their evening services,
and union services of groups of churches
are suggested as a measure of fuel con
servation. Schools are extending their
Christmas vacations, some for a period
of several weeks, and some are arranging
for forenoon sessions only, in order that
the fires may be banked in the after
noon. Apartment houses are notifying
their tenants of a plan to keep the fires |
banked an hour or two longer, in some
instances with a corresponding decrease
In rent Libraries are falling into line
with plans of economy, and the numer- /
GUS suggestions sent out by James J.
Storrow for fuel economics in homes are Il
expected to have some effect upon the 4
consumption of fuel. !
The more substantial saving, now I'M L
der consideration, is that sought by the Il
companies through cur =
tailment of service. The Boston & Maine
is the latest to announce that it is eat n
ing into its inadequate surplus to the :
extent of 5000 tons day and must re-
sort to eurtailment of passenger serv- II
ice The action of the Boston Elevated !:
and Bay State street railway companies II
is followed by the other trolley com n
panies in Massachusetts,. In one instance :
the government has come to the rescue u
Of street railway company by supply II
ing it with coal from the navy yard when ::
Il was on the verge of suspending its Y
service. In
Industries are struggling with the r
problem. Many factories are reported u
10 be almost without fuel n