Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-06
HeatIess Mondays
 to be Continued
CONCLUSION REACHED AT CON-
 FERENCE YESTERDAY
NO TIME TO LIFT ORDER
Reports Returned by State Fuel Ad- minissrssors Stated That Even # Order was Rescinded Plants Would Have to Close for Lack of Fuel.


 Washington, Feb. 5--With the east facing the most acute coal shortage of the winter and in the grip of the scoldest weather in a generation, the government decided today that the. this time be abandoned as had been hoped.
 Will Be Given Out Today.
 The conclusion to continue the cios-s ling was reached at a conference be- tween Fuel Administrator Garfield and Director General McAdoo attended by a dozen state fuel administrators. There was no official announcement but joint statement probably will be given out tomorrow. There had been every indication up to last night that the Monday holidays were over, but reports brought to Washington by the state fuel administrators that through out mots of the east there is on hand but one days supply of coal, coupled with the weather situation, were ac- cepted as convincing proof that the present is no time to lift the closing order Even Mir. McAdoo, who up to 1 this time is understood to have ep- posed the closing plan, was said to- might to haveS agreed that until the weather permits an improvement in railroad transportation the order should be continued in force.
 Plants Would Have 10 cicse Anyway. The blizzard has cut coal produc- ] ton and movement to such an extent l that ofi1cials pointed out tonight that even had the Monday closings been abandoned industry would be forced 1 to close down to a considerable time for a lack of fuel supplies. In fact, ] lreports to the fuel administrations to- lnight showed that in many states plants already are closing in large numbers.
 It was emphasized that the fuel ad tministrat ton is determined that whai coal is unloaded and distributed shal go to householders first. State fue administrators have been given almosi 1 unlimited authority to divort coal from other consumers to keep the people warm in the.r homes.
 Situation is Alarming.
 1 For the first time since coal begar to run short, fuel administration offi. cials admit that the situation is alarm, ing. Report after report came during ] the day telling of cities all the wal from the Mississippi to the Atlantis
 
 l on hand and prospects poor for ob tain, ing anything like the quantities need Led. E
 New Easfand 7rSnspefta crippied
 h New England transportation va. 4 declared hopeless Trains were crfp \ pied and an Atlantic storm had haltes coal movement by water. In Pennsyl vania mines were idle, cities Weri | J<,f to move. All industry in Indiana. i was said, was about to shut down an { the situation in Ohio was so crifica N Governor Cox planned to come [, Il Washington to make 8 personal appea for aid.
 Dozens of cities closed their school today in order to save coal
 Railroads in Deplorabie Shape. \ The railroads today were declare, to be in the worst shape they hay been at any time during the winter FLOW temperatures made it impossibl
 in some instances for trainmen to Worl and general freight movement was sai to be about 50 per cent of normal. T May Be Four-D Day Shutdown. II There are some indications that i better weather does not come to i'm prove the situation officials will talk
 up for consideration an amendment t i the closing order prescribing two four
 day shutdoWns, one covering the peri Tod of Lincpln's birthday anniversar-
 and the other Washington's birthday I.incoln's birthday. Feb. 12, falls 0, Tuesday, bringing three day holida
 over Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. ]
 Saturday. usually observed as a hal 't holiday, were made a complete holiday ! this would give four -day closing. Washingtons birthday, Feb. 9 d Friday offers another opportunity t mabe Saturday a complete holiday an thus give another four day closing De , riod. { Railroad administration reports to . day said freight movement had bee cut Tn half and passenger trafi1c sui fered equally. Coal formed the bui of the freight which struggling road were able ento move through cold wind and drifting snows, but deliveries ev
 erywhere were far below normal de 1 mands. >
 Prospects for Improvement Gloomy Al Prospects for material impruvemer
 Tn the next few days were gloomy. Adding to the railroads dificultie
 many coal mines and collierses l sii iP'ennsylvania. West Virginia and Obi : practically stopped operations becaus the weather pept workers at hom : and the effect of this reduction of orli I put ordinarily would be felt in froI three to five days. Freight handler at terminals refused to work and cor ? gestion there increased Water froz
 in tanks at sidings and deraiirneni caused by the filling of switches an frogs With snow were numerous.
 In New York harbor even the mo-
 powerful tugs had difficulty in breal ing through the ice, and string ( marges returning from a trip to Ne
 England with coal were stuck. a I'VE