The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-16
U. S; FUEL BOARD
SPEEDS UP CARS
Administrator Garfield. After
Coal Conference, Aids
Middle West.
SITUATION STILL ,sACUTE
Domestic Needs Must Be Sup
piled Before Factories.
Is Decision.
STILL 'eACUTE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.--Reports OF al
most nationwide suffering due to lack
Of coal stirred Fuel Administration offi-
cials to-day to redoubled efforts to re.
lease supplies held on tracks by car con-
gestion.
Orders went forth to Fuel Administra.
tion representatives inOhe middle West
to make every attempt to move coal to
points In many instances declared to be
facing actual coal famnes. A. w.
Thompson. chairman OF the operating
committee OF Eastern railroads, was
called into conference by Fuel Admins
traitor Garfield for suggestions as to re-
lieving the situation.
After his conference with DR.. Garfield
Mr.. Thompson said the situation was
erious. but that his committee was maxi
ing great progress toward relieving con-
sestion in the Pittsburg terminal terri
tory. The full effect OF the committee s
Efforts. he said, would not become sp-
parent for several days.
Fuel Administrator Johnson reported
from Cleveland tonight that he had
started sixty car loads OF coal into that
city where 100000 men were idle to-day
because of the shutting down OF plants
been given the full power in the matter
Of distribution. said he would supply
householders first. even IL it forced in
dustries TO close down.
Domestic Needs Para mount.
III the weather remains severe" he
telesraphed. my opinion is that all in
dustries. no matter how important.
should. except in cases Of vital impor-
tance for keeping plant warm or main
tanning refrigeration or something Of that
sort. give way to domestic needs. The
miners ara not loading and the emer-
gency will become graver unless the
wasthsv modsrstss. Ny ofF,os 10 dis
tributing all the lake coal available to
domestic consumers and We arc trying 20
make UP a train load for country. dis
tr!but'on for the Northwest part Of me
State
The Fuel Administration tonight
turned to the Car Service Commission
for aid in getting coal to shipbuildins
plants at Cleveland and Lorain. Ohio,
and Detroit. Mich, where seventy-two
merchant vessels are under construction
for the Government. The head OF the
plant wired to-day that he would be
forced TO suspend operations unless
given fuel Immediately. -
Reports from New York to-day told OF
the Bethlehem Ship Building Company
running on short time because there
is no coal to be had. and the Govern
ment arsenal at WATERFOWL, Mass, will
shut down December IS II coal is not
obtained. In Beaver Valley, Pa. women
and children were reported to be housed
in churches and schools that they migh,
keep warm. street car systems In many
towns are also threatened with suspen-
sion because OF lack OF fuel.
Coal Emciency Reduced.
In. empha asizing the need for coal con-
serva.ion to-day Director Manning Of the
bureau Of mines declared that inasmuch
as coal this year contains probably
per cent. more ash: that as a result its
effectiveness had been reduced lev per
cent. and on such a basis there was =
deficiency Of 130.000.000 tons to be over
come by good engineering and efficiency
in the boiler rooms
Analysis Of coal at the bureau. he sat
has shown that coal running s to s per
cent ash in normal time now runs
lo to Is per cent. Complaint about the
preparation OF coal. Director Manning
said, is very general,
Although 65O.0O0.0oO tons might be
produced in the year. Director Manning
said, a decrease Of one-eighth in effec-
tiveness made II for all practical pur.
poses the equivalent Of sc. .O0O, 900. some
80. 900. .0Oo tons less than last years out
put. Adding estimated needs Of lOO,-
0OO. 900 additional tons for accelerated
activities. makes a practical deficiency of
l3o. .00O, 900 tons.