New-York tribune., 1918-01-15
Bad Weather and Choked Roads
Forces McAdoo's Emergency Orders

with the aid of state fuel administra-
tofs on the return to Washington of
+. Is. Noyes, head of the fuel admins
tratlon's conservation division, who is
studying the situation in New York
and New England 1t will apply prob
abiy to all the states east of the Mis-
sissippi. Industries in the fifth class
named by DR.. Garfield probably will be
required to shut down until the other
classes are supplied. Their supplies
will be cut off, and if necessary the
1uel administration viii requisiton any
coal they may have in store f6r dis
trlbution among the more favored
classes
The less essential industries them
selves may be further classified. as it
probably will be found necessary to
keep some of them running more stead
lily than others.
An Emergency Measure
The preferential and curtaiment
plan, Dr. Garfield made clear tonight.
is an emergency arrangement made
necessary by famine conditions.
Fuel administration officials hope
that relief may be made possible by
shutting down the less essential indus
tries for three days a week, but ii it
appears that this will not materially
benefit conditions they will be forced
to remain closed until relief is as
sured.
State fuel administrators were given
wide authority two weeks ago in ap-
portioning coal shipments. but the
shortage in the East has become so
general that Dr. Garfield decided the
situation should be handled largely
Wor IL, N...:
traitors will be given definite instruc-
tions AS to distribution in conformity
with the fuel administration general
plan. The purpose is to bring a uni
form degree Of action and thus save
confusion in administering regulations.
Coal cons icned to the less essential
( industries and seized by fuel admin
istrators for distribution elsewhc re
Will be taken at government liked
prices instead CT the prices that may
have feen specified in contracts. The
shipper will be required later to sup
ply the conslgnec the amount taken
at contrac, prlccs.
10 Avoid Long Hanls
AS long as the cold weather lasts
supplies for the East will be drawn. as
far as possible, from Pennsylvania
mines to avoid long hauls and car con-
geStlOn.
For the Middle West. where most
freight and passenger traffic was still
held up to-day by frigid weather and
deep snow, Sir. McAdoo issued no
priority orders, but railroad manage
ments received instructions to move
coal and food aAead of all other ship
ments, and to do their utmost to clear
the snow from main travel routes.
AS a result OF the almost complete
tic-up of traffic in The Middle West a
multitude Of requests for priority for
many commodities poured in upon the
railroad administration to- day. but all
were refused until MI Smith tclc-
graphcd his urscrt recommendations
for the New York situation Officials
explained that, with this exception. the
transportation situation can best be
cleared up By letting railroads move
what they can Of the whole bulk Of
frelgh. accommodating IS a result Of the
storm.
Freight Moving Week
"Freigh ight-movnr week" opened to-
day under rather inauspicious circum
stances, with drayagc and unloading
facilities at terminals occupied will
other tasks made necessary BY tn,
storm. but the rising temperatures
over the country gave officials hope tha
the latter days Of the week would bt
open for great freight clearance
movement to release cars.
Hundreds of kilograms from shin
pers' organizations, chambers of com
merce and other organizations reachct
the Director General to day. promising
strenuous efforts to make freight
ing week a success.
Edward W. Chambers, general trafi
director of the railroad administration
to-day took up the question of coor
dnating government shipments, ant
arranged plan for clearance through
the railroad administration of all spe
c,a requests for hurry movements TO
'he army or navy, shipping board, fue
qua 1000 ADMINISTRATIONS, or othc
branches of the government.
On War Department shipments h,
viii cooperate especially With II NJ
Adams, vicc-presidcnt Of the Missouri
faclhc. who has been put in charge o
Gil quartermaster SHIPMENTS.
SPECIAL needs of the Emergency Flee
Corporation for heavy fir timhsr
from the West and other materials ar.
under consideration
IN has report to the Director Gen.
eral to-day Mr.. Smith said only twen.
ty-one ships at New York had beer
s"Ppiieo win coal IN the last twenty.
four hours. and added:
"Between Pittsburgh. Buffalo, Chi
eaeo and s.. Louis there has beer
practically 10 freight movement 60,
twenty-four hours. Practically III,
only passenger movements have beer
those incident to getting stalled pas
senger trains into terminals.
snow mas driftcd very heavily
packing in cars on side tracks and r.
yards, and it will take considerabl,
time and much effort to get them loose
temperatures early to-day at Pitts
burgh and Buffalo were still zero. wifi
extremely high winds West of ther,
weather was moderated /, has like
wise moderated III New York and al
other points East
"The very low temperature with
snow and high winds has produced q
combination which is said .o b ,,-o