Evening journal., 1918-01-17
Du Ponf Co. Plants Will Close;
Stores 10 Save Fuel Mondays
-ContInned Trom FIrst Page.,

Continued From First page.)
tractors instructions. Everyone was
wondering what to do; manufacturing
ing plants and business houses were at
loss to know whether TO close their
places Of business and the heads Of the
city's biggest industries were driven to
distraction almost in trying to figure
out what was expected Of them.
But one thing seemed to be sure,
and that was that thousands Of work
men are going to be thrown out Of
employment for flve days with the re-
sultant loss to them Of Ave days pay
which. il is believed, viii entail much
suffering and hardship on them and
on their families This will result In
further loss to the business houses OF
the city. for II will take out Of cir
culation that much money which IN
/ the aggc egate viii amount to thou-
sands OF dollars.
/ The dupont Powder Co. said II intends
/ to close us plants, which viii mean en-
/ forced idleness for nearly 10000 men,
| Whether its oflce building and the
force of officials and clerks employed
there will be closed could not be de-
termined. The shipyards where many
thousands Of men are at work viii not
close at least on the present status OF
the situation, for officials stated tals
morning that they are going to wait for
official orders before taking any action
looking to this end.
Theatres saloons, moving picture
houses. department stores ana sucH
nlaces were at a loss 20 know wnether
Inc flve-day closing provision would az
feet them until they were informed
otherwise. The Monday holiday order.
/ however. effects them TO The extent OF
prohibiting the use Of coal by them ON
! the Monday holiday They are not COM
pelled to close their places of business
on any day.
The Wilson Line announced 1t VIII
run its boats as usual because they are
considered public utility which under
the order Is not 90 be disturbed.
While the action Of the Federal Fuel
Administration has been more or less
aniicipated because of the frequent ru-
mors that such a step was to be taken
fha suddenness with which It was an-
nounced at Washington last night
10 say the least Business activity m
this city will be revolutionzed as re-
tsult Of the drastic provisions embodied
in the governments action
With an places Of amusement closed
the only diversion for the thousands
of men and women who VIII be throw
out OF employment during the iNe dal
period will be 20 walk the streets ol
remain at home
The order is regarded as even more
drastic than President Wilson's actor
in taking over the railroads OF the
country. Whereas the Presidents rail
road order affected only the particular
Industry, the action last night affects
every phase Of business life in this sec
ton Of the country mad viii result II
radical changes In the mode Of livinl
Of thousands Of persons.
dupont Pants TO Close.
"The dupont Company VIII obey tn
mandate Of the Fuel Administrator an'
shut down its plants. unless the Gov
? ernment changes IFS attitude and be
cause Of the Importance Of the powde
supply to the conduct Of the var, dl
rects the company TO continue oper
ations'
Z This statement was made officially b.
the dupont Company this morning.
Such q shutdown would save only
p part Of the daily fuel consumption a
the company's plants as it is necessar'
to keep the machinery in operation, tn
buildings properly heated. etc Thl
will require, It is estimated, somewhen
J from 90 to 50 per cent. Of the coal gen
orally used during full operation. IN
J daily coal consumption at Carney
/ point is about 300 tons, Hopewell use
an average OF 5000 tons, and the othe
b plants in proportion.
A portion Of the thousands Of WORK
J men would, of course, become idle, bu
! moi all of them because to keep tn
nlants in shape even when they ar
6 not making powder requires lars
force.
Accurate figures on these Nariou
Y items viii not be available until tn
( operating departments shall have ma
r time 10 work them out.
e such a suspension Of work mean
: the loss 70 the Allied and United state
4 armies, Of 100000 pounds of powder
: day that being the capacity Of IN
dupont company's plants.
y The company has $1,000 persons ol
d MS payroll the greater proportion o