Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-24
EMBARGO
ON THREE ROADS
Only Food, Coal and War Mu-
nitions Permitted to
Move Now.
RULE AFFECTS TRUNK LINES
Effort Will Be Made to Clear Up
Accumulation Of
Shipments.
RULE AFFECTS TRUNK LINES
{ rs- A.,nc,at,d prc..-l


WASHINGTON. January "a-Nn ur-
Official embargo on AL freight except
:ocd, fuel and munitions practically
was in effect tonight east of the Miss
sSippi and north or tho Ohio and 70
tonac EircrG. as Il result of Dircc' or
General NcAdoo's authorized cnlbar-
20 ,o-day on three Eastern trunk
lines. Although the restriction was
applied formally only 20 tho rennsyi-
vauia and tho Baltimore and ohio cast
of Pittsburgh and tho Philadelphia and
Reading. othcE railroads accepted little
freight to-day. particularl;' il il was
destined for eastward movement.
Th!a situation probably viii con
tinuc for several days. until ridcr
wcathe. permits railroads 10 begin to
move the srca. quantity Of general
freight accumulated during The past
two weeks OF winter storms.
Factors contributing to tho unofficial
Eastern embargo were the priority Of
movement Icr coal and foodstu.js. and
tho continued priority in coal dclivc ricS
given 10 domestic consumer a;.d ships
ana certain industries which were cX-
cmptcd in the fuel administrators or.
dor.
70 reduce railroad mileage in haul
ing of coal. some sort cf zone syster,
probably Will be put into operation bv
tn" railroad and fuel administro ton
within week rians for such an
arrangement were discussed to-da% ut
a conference between Dirrctor-c:crcr3l
McAdoo and Fuel Administrator Gar
field. both Of whom announccd later
that they were working in entire uni
SON IL. developing plan OF greatest
efficiency fer coal Transportation.
FLOW OF COtI. TO EAST
RELIEVES NEW ENGLA
Although weather rema iucd cold over
most of tho East to-day, the lack Of
new snowfall enabled the railroads to
make slight improvement in the
traffic situation. The now OF coal cast
ward TO tho Atlantic scaboard and New
England was somewhat greater and the
suppl" of empty cars TO mining regions
was large. Nowhere was there any
near approach to normal conditions.
however. and railroad administration
officials pointcd out that the fun effect
OF the low coal production and distri-
button would no, he felt for several!
days. The number of ships awaiting
bunker coat at Atlantic ports was
smaller today. but freezing of coal in
the cars still hampcrcd dumping. and
ice in harhors intcrfercd with lighter
age
The supply of empty ears to the
Pennsylvania anthracite regions was
nearly normal though tho central Penn
sylvania bitunlinors district got only
about half its usual number. About
fifty mines in tho pocahontas fields OF
West Virginia and Virginia suspended
thirds its normal car supply.
The dumping Of coal at tidewator
was particularly retarded to day at
Hampton Roads "ho.c southern lati-
tudc heretofore has rendered thawing
tons al Norfolk were reported today
as worst than for ma ~ years. and a
number OF ships were hclA II? for lacl.
Of coal. Temperatures ranged not far
from the zero mark over much O. the
country tonight. hut warmer weather
was in prospect later in the week. and
when It comes. railroad officials look
for much Improvement in transporia
ton.
Tho embargo put into effect to-day
will no; apply to shipping OF munitions
or other war supplies specifically ap-
proved by the War or Navy Depart
mcnts and the Shipping Board. The
traffic directors OF these departments
viii furnish To railroads definite irtor-
nation on shipments which they wish
10 move promptly.
PLAN COtI. DISTRIBUTION
THROUGH ZONE MEB;CM
The contemplated zone system Q: coal
distribution is based on a plan pre-
pared some months ago by Francis S.
Peabody, chairman of the coal com
nIittcn OF The Council OF National De-