Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-12
CEDAR WORKS is
FORCED TO CLOSE
BY ICE In RIVER

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night was continued warm rain to-
day. with dropping temperature late
i'll the day and night, and n cold wave
tomorrow. Tho approach Of the cold
wave may offset any danger from an
! overflow of the James River and the
flooding of tho lower sections Of Rich.
/ mond.
! GAS worries HAS ONLY
THREE-DhY SUPPLY or OIL
While The situation has not as vet
become alarming, Superintendent w. u.
Knowles. OF the Gas Department, said
last night that the lower works had
not more than a three day supply OF
oil. Great difficulty has been expert
enccd for the past two weeks in OBJ
/ aiming oil, 3al the plan, has been
running with only a few hours supply
in advance VITA the river frozen, two
barSes are now held in the ice AZ Nor
folk. and oil is being shipped t. Rich
mond in tank cars from tho surround
ing country.
Railroad facilities arc SO conEcstcd.
however as TO cause Mr.. Knowles en-
siderable concern. There is no danger
OF the plants supply OF oil BECOMING
exhausted. he said. /: the railroads viii
cooperate with tic city and move
tho cars quickly. For several DAYS he
has been forced TO resort to extreme
measures, to get shipments throus h.
Without oil tho plf.nt will nc forced to
close. but Mr.. knowles said there was
no danger from this source as yet.
EIGHT INCHES OF ICE IN
RIVER AT CLARENoNT
With continual ton of this weather
there is little hope for tho oncninS Of
the James River 10 traffic for some
time. Officers OF the Old Dominion
steamship Company said there was
nothing that could be done but to
await a warm period Every effort
would be made by them at the proper
time TO blaze channel. but this was
impossible until weather conditions
changed.
Reports yesterday showed eight
inches OF ice In the James River at
Clarcmont. and five inches at City
Point. The ice is also heavy at New.
port News and other points along tho
river. while the baltimore harbor re-
mains closed. River men became
slightly alarmed last night at the
weather forecast. but reconcilcd them
selves to the inevitable, knowing there
was nothing for them to do
Steamers OF tho Old Dominion Steam
ship Company have been tied up two
weeks to-day, with merchants and
other shippers suffering from the de-
lay in freight traffic. AS soon as tho
ice starts thawinE. vessels will be sent
out from Norfolk to cut channel
The greater part OF the ice will be cut
away from the lower end Of the river
in order that it nay foat out TO sea
To start cutting at Richmond. river
men said. would threaten a gorge and
should thaw result the river would
probably become flooded
CITY WILL. RENDER ALI.
POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE
Members OF the Administrative Board
declared last night that they were pre-
pared to reader additional assista nee
to all needy persons. They feared that
with return OF severe weather the
suffering in Richmond would be in
creased many times. The heads Of all
charity organizations were also pre-
pairing for unprecedented demands dur
ing the next few days. The coal stu
alton was declared TO be practically
the same in i.ichm ond, but TO be such
az to cause no alarm. While the an
,hracite supply is practically exhausted
and only small quantity Is being re-
ccived daily. there is no lack OF BIZ
luminous coal. which can be used in
the emergency.
Indicating the unusually prolonged
cold spell which has kept the James
past two weeks Is the fact that no oys-
ters arc being received on this market.
Several OF the largest hotels ycster-
day closed their oyster counters, un-
able to obtain any supply OF oysters in
the she'll. lie is reported from the
lower river that because OF this con-
d!tion a large number of oyster tong
ers are out OF work.