Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-15
BUSINESS HOUSES WILL
OPERATE ON SHORT
DAY BASIS
ADOPT PLAN TODAY
ALL BRANCHES OF THE CiTY'S
COMMERCIAL LIFE AGREE TO
AID IN THE CONSERVATION or
COAl--MAYOR BRADFORD Is.
SUES pRoClAMAviOk.


lie schools and the shortening OF the
hours OF every retail business In the
city went into effect today in order
to conserve the coal supply and tidt
the city over the fuel famine tina
has become critical since the severe
storms OF the last week.
The adoption OF plans for the cen.
servation OF fuel was bought about
upon the recommendation by the ths
local fuel conservator, 4. c. Swi
and after his recommendation wcac
approved BY the merchants at a
meeting held this forenoon at ,he
Chamber Of Commerce, Mayor Brad
fc.d issued proclamation direct Z
! that the plan as outlined be followCa
as closely as possible. any deviation
Or violation of which would be 70
lowed by shatting of Of all coal
supply from the ohcnding rart!ec b.
the local fuel conseryator.
WIN Cut Fuel Supply.
The reports OF committees wera re-
ceived at the IhamYcr Of Commerce
this forenoon. and practically ever.
line OF business agreed to open at )
In the forenoon and close at ) in the
afternoon, excepting the butch r.
and grocers. whose hours were tixct.
at 1.:l in The forenoon and ; IN rhl
alternc on.
The only ones to protest at the !,
o'clock opening we.a the grocer
and butchers, who claim the grea ts
Lortion Of their business was trans
acted In the early forenoon and th
1t would be possible for them to sup.
ply their patrons ii they waited until
. o'clock to open.
MI. Swift. alter reading his Co1l
municat ion from the state fuel adm n.
istrator. in which the former Was
given iull control over the local coal
supply, threatened that Il any person
declined to cooperate in the present
emergency he would shut OFF the,r
coal supply entirely.
The meeting was presided over
this forenoon b. l.. N. Lueey at which
time the various committees present.
cd their reports.
The banks agreed to open at !
o'clock and close at ;, and open st.
Urdas evening as usual.
DruG stores will be open from . )
with the exception ot one store.
The clothing stores. shoe stores
hardware stores, implement stores
ice cream and candy stores Will he
open between the hours of . and T.
The moving picture theaters vii.
be closed In the afternoon and vii
only give evening shows.
Saloons eak at Shorter Hours.
The saloons declined to shorten thl
hours for fear It would establish q
precedent and result In a permanen
shortening OF their hours. They dt
however, agree to conserve in the use
Of electric lights.
Prof kingn1an announced that tht
high school closed at noon today /
requires three tons OF coal per day t,
run the high school at normal time
lately the supply had been reduced
one ton per day. The closing of tn,
schools will probably not be for lon
. as they will be the first to receive
supplies Of coal.
Secretary Farrell announced lha
five cars Of coal were received in tn
city during the night and this was b,
ing distributed in small quantities
Mr.. Scherer has seven cars on tn
road for which he has received in
voices.
Many of the local industries hay
either closed their plants or are rur
ming on short fationmept. The Fee
eral Plate glass works is still close
and other Industrial plants are ge
ting ready to close The Davis.Steir
pr cucumber factory received IA ca
III coal yesterday which saved ther
from a loss estimated at from $1,000
to 415n00.
The railroads are being rapid
whipped into shape and il is believe
- l. sssn. Il. So .--..----
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