Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-24
FOOD, FUEL AND
MUNITIONS FIRST
Other Freight East of Missis.
sippi and North Of Ohio and
Potomac Embargoed.
COAL FLOWS EASTWARD.
supply Of Empty Cars to Mining Re.
gions II I.arger-No Near Approach
to Normal Conditions YETI.

Washington, Jan. 3.-An unofficial EN-.
barge on all freight except food, fuel and
munitions virtually was In erect tonight
east of the mississippi and north Of the
Ohio and Potomac rivers, as a result of
Director-General McAdoo's authorised
embargo to-day on three eastern trunk
lines Although the restriction was APP
piled formally only to the Pennsylvania
and the Baltimore & Ohio east of Pitts
burg, and the Philadelphia &c Reading.
other railroads accepted lktle freight to-
day, particularly il 1t was destined Tor
eastward movement
This situation probably will continue
for several days. until milder weather per-
mits railroads to begin to move the great
quantities of general freight accumulated
during the past two weeks Of winter
storms.
Factors contributing to the unomcial
eastern embargo were the priority OF
movement for coal and foodstuffs, and
the continued preference in coal deliver
les given to domestic consumers. ships
and certain war industries which were
exempted from the fuel ADMINISTRATORS
general closing order. The ban on coal
consumption was officially lifted at mid
night last night, but scores OF manu-
featuring plants. unable to divert coal
from the stream flowing to the more
essential industries. remained closed or
prepared to suspend operations in a day
or two when their available coal stocks
are gone. This fact. and the knowledge
Of many shippers that ordinary freight
had little chance Of prompt delivery.
tended to curtail the shipment offerings
| to-day.
To reduce railroad mileage in hauling
of coal, some sort of zone system Of coal
distribution probably will be put into oper-
| alton by the railroad and fuel admins
trations within week. Plans for such
an arrangement were discussed to-day at
conference between Director General
McAdoo and Fuel Administrator GARFIELD,
both Of whom announced that they were
working in entire unison in developing
a plan Of greatest efficiency for coal
transportation.
most Of the East to-day. the lack Of new
snowfall enabled the railroads to make
a slight improvement in the traffic situa.
ton. The flow of coal eastward to the
Atlantic seaboard and New England wal
somewhat greater. and the supply Of
empty cars to mining regions was larger
Nowhere was there any near approach Il
normal conditions. however. and railroad
administration oficials pointed out tina
the full effect Of the low coal production
and distribution would not be felt To-
several days.
The number Of ships awaiting bunke
lcoal at Atlantic ports was smaller to-day
but freezing of coal in the cars still
hampered dumping. and ice in harbor
interfered with lighterage. The supply o
empty cars to the Pennsylvania anthracite
regions was nearly normal. though tn
central Pennsylvania bituminous distric
got only about half it's usual number.
Meat and livestock from the Middl
West moved eastward in considerable
quantities to-day.
The dumping OF coal at tidewater wa
particularly retarded to-day at Hampto
Roads. whose southern latitude hereto
} fore has rendered thawing apparatus un
necessary. Weather conditions at Norfol
were reported to-day as worse than 70
many years and a number of ships wer
held up for lack of coal
Temperatures ranged not far from TIL
zero mark over much Of the country te
might, but warmer weather was In prospet
later in the week, and when 1t comes raj
road officials look for much improvement
in TRANSPORTATION.