New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Unofficial Embargo
On All Railroad Lines
East of Mississippi

WASHINGTON. Jan. a3.-~An unofi- :
ciai embargo on al freight except
jood, fuel and munitions practically
vas in effect tonight east Of the Mis-
sssippi and north Of the Ohio and Po-
1on'ac rivers. as q result Of Director
General McAdoo's authorized embargo
to-day on three Eastern trunk lines.
Although the restriction was applied
formally only to the Pennsylvania and
the Baltimore 4, Ohio east of Pitts
burgh ami the Philadelphia & Reading,
other railroads accepted little freight
today, particularly it it was destined
for eastward movement.
This situation prabably will continue
Tor several days, until milder weather
permits railroads to begin tc move the
great quantity OF general freight accu-
lnr!ated in the last two weeks OF winter
storms
Factors contributing to the unofficial
embargo were the priority Of movement
for coal and foodstutfs and the con-
tlnued preference in coal deliveries
given to domestic consumers. ships and
certain war industries exempted from
the fuel administrations general clos
ing order.
The ban cn coal consumption was Of
iicialy lifted at midnight last night,
out scores OF manufacturing plants, un
able to divert coal from the stream
howlng to the more essential indus
tries, remained closed or prepared to
suspend operations in day or two,
when their available coal stocks will be
zone. This fact, and the knowledge Of
many shippers that ordinary freight
mad little chance of prompt delivery,
tended to curtail the shipment offer
ngs to-day.
Although tho weather remained cold
oyer most of the East to- day, the lack
oi new snowfall enabled the railroads
70 make a slight Improvement in the
traffic situation. The flow of coal east
ward 10 the Atlantic seaboard and New
England was somewhat greater and the
supply OF empty cars to mining regions
was larger. Nowhere was there a near
approach to normal conditions, how
ever and railroad administration off
..als pointed out that the full effect Of
e .he low coal production and dstribu-
'ioh would not be felt for several DAYS.
Waiting Ships Cut Down
me number of ships awaiting bunker
Iodl at Atlantic ports was smaller to-
uay, but freezing of coal in the cars
b.i hampered dumping, and ice in har-
a Dols interfercd with lighterage. The
supply OF empty cars to the Pennsyl-
INA INA anthracite regions was nearly
rormai' re' though the central Pennsyl-
sa sshla bltuminous district got only
@uout half its usual number. Car
,rng unortage compelled Indiana mines to
"o,S at ~ per cent capacity.
noout nifty mines in the Pocahontas
auxa.s'5 sssa Of West Virginia and Virginia
sssspended work. West Virginia got
ap1ut two.thirds its normal car supply
I"d the Pittsburgh district about half.
cN loading IN the latter field was about
" percent normal.
E. Noal receipts in Ohio and Indiana
,or domestic and commercial purposes
s "ele reported very low, but prospects
"vre ,'.;,, said to be bright for improve a1cnt
~, n''nih NJ, a day or two. The movement
~ michigan and Chicago was far bet
jel tnan in previous days. Meat and
t,Sestock moved eastward in considera-
''e Quantities to-day.
, i"e cumping of coal at tidewater
""S particularly retarded to-day at