The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-08
RADICAL MEASURES
TO MOVE COAL ARE
TAKEN BY k'AOOO
Government Faced by Choice 3D.
tween Rushing Troops or Send
Ing Supplies to Allies,

Washington. Jan. $50 serious has
become the problem OF coal transpor-
tation that VAR department. the navy,
the treasury. the commerce and labor
and fuel administration took sudden
steps today 20 help Director General
MoAdoo move fuel to the seaboArd
terminals.
Temporarily the government ig faced
with the critical question of making a
choice between hurrying troops to
France in response to Colonel Houses
urging, or forwarding supplies TO the
allies. At the navy department II was
explained that % per cent or the ships
that were to have left New York were
held up on account of inability to OBJ
tain bunker coal Director General Me-
Adoo believes the crush will be speed
ily reltvsi If the people of the country
will do their best to help him.
Pointing out the extreme danger OF
the forces abroad. he issued sn appeal
TO the people to make the week begin
ming next Monday freight moving
freight "tf the demands of tho people
eor the necessaries OF life and OF the
army and navy for essential NUM-
lions and supplies are TO be net"
/ Secretary OF war Baker has put up
/ to General George W. ,Goethals the
task Of clearing out the Thousands OF
cars on which war material rs stored
As director of transportation and
storage he must move the govern
ment cars and clear them. under the
same demurrage penalties set for or
4 binary shippers--a maximum of $40 a
day effective January 81 at the end
of freight moving week.
! At a meeting of the peHt-war board
I of the port OF New York held here
today Secretary McAdoo was relieved
of hts duties as chairman of the
board. and Edward N. Hurley, chair
man of the shipping board. was
named in his place The board i:
working in conjunction with repre-
sentatives OF the wnr, navy, treasury
commerce and labor departments. al
I OF whom have jurisdiction over tht
port of New York. They will also
confer with representatives of stea n
railroads and the owners of all termi'
nal and harbor facilities.
/ With ships the most serious factor
in the war transportation problem
Secretary of the Navy Daniels today
made this significant statement:
i Transportation is still the neck o.
Il the war bottle"
many of the important terminals be
cause of the heavy snow storm o
to-day and yesterday. Director-Genera
Il McAdoo asked in his appeal FOL
freight moving week:
"I earnestly request the governor
of the various states, the public utili
. ties commissioners. the mayors o
cities and towns, the state councils o
defense, the federal and state fco'
organizations. business men and ship
pers generally. trucking companies
, and all railroad employees concerned
to organize locally and to make a 81
| preme effort during this week TO IN
load freight cars. 10 remove freiGh
, from railroad stations. and to ciea
: the decks for a more efficient opera
; ton OF the railroads of the country.
Under the new dernurrage orde
, Just issued. heavy charges for deten
ton of freight cars will go into ef
: fleet on ard after January 81. tn
: whole nation should unite In q SUI
, preme effort to clear up the conges
{ Continued on Second PagAl