New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
Fuel Director Declares
Second Days Shut
down Shows Big
Results
McAdoo Assigns
More Cars for Fuel
New Exemptions Made
Pooling Of Tugs Is
Planned to Re-
lease Ships


WASHINGTON, Jan. ia marked
improvement in coal famine conditions
was reported by the fuel administra-
ton tonight as a result of the second
days operation of the government fuel
restriction order
Houses were warmed, ships were
bunkered and, in the extreme East, rail-
way congestion was cleared to some ex-
tent, fuel administration officials said
after going. through telegraphic reports
from twenty-eight state fuel admin
istrators. In the Middle West heavy
otorm and zero temperatures, however,
reduced rail movement sharply.
The only important change in the
closing order made day was a ruling
permitting all places of amusement to
remain open on the Monday holidays
and close on Tuesdays instead. A large
number of industrial plants we're added
to the War and Navy departments ex-
emption list, but the names of none
we're made public.
A special effort was made to-day to
Fuel Administrator Garfield arranged
with Chairman Hurley of the Shipping
Board to pool tugs and baHges in each
Atlantic port where vessels Ere held to
expedite the work.
Hurley Rushes Aid Here
Pooling was suggested by the fuel
a qdyy1ip nj CT troti hv
sistant director general of railroads,
who declared that some piers supplied
with coal had no barges to transport
it, and others with no coal on hand
were we'll supplied with bargcs.
Chairman Hurley tonight started a
special representative to New York to
assist Mr.. Smith and J. ". Searles,
representative of the fuel administra-
ton. in putting through the pooling ar
rangemenr.
Reports from New York said that
thirteen ships were bunkered there to-
Gay, despite heavy ice that interfered
with barge movement. Railroad of
ticials reported that coal was moving
much more freely to the piers, and that
1T now was a question only of getting
it aboard ships. Men will be kept hard
at work all day tomorrow and in the
principal Atlantic ports keeping the
coal moving.
II am determined to take any steps,"
said Fuel Administrator Garfield to-
night, (which may be necessary within
my authority to facilitate the supply
ing Of ships with fuel"
Dr Carfeld's St.ta,,.r+
Fuel Administrator Garfield tonight
issued statement or the general Sit
uation, in which he said:
General compliance and almost COM
plete coope ration in the enforcement
of the fuel administration regulation
curtailing industrial use of fuel were
reported to the United States Fuel Ad-
ministratlon to-day. Local officials of
the fuel administration throughout the
East reported that the order was gen
orally effective. The spirit of coopera-
tion showed plainly in the many tele-
grams received by the fuel admins
tration.
"Telegrams received to-day were sin
tion from the regulation. Most of them
made the fat statement that the regu-
latlon would be complied with in fact
and in spirit. that manufacturing would
be halted and that merchandise would
be kent off the crowded railroads.
Railroad officials, cooperating with
the fuel administration, reported gem
orally improved transportation condi-
tions in the Eastern part of the coun-
try. The reports~indicated that the way
wasrapidly being cleared for the move
ment Of coal for the bunaerlng of ships
now held up at Atlantic ports and for
keeping the country warm. Improve
ment was also noted in the Central
West, despite the continued zero
weather, which has been impeding rail
road operations.
400 Cars Released
Reports from the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad showed a car supply of 1906
cars available for coal mines in West
ern Virginia. This was an increase of
400 over the number available the day
before. On the first day the restrictive
regulation was effective the Baltimore
Ohio Railroad moved LOO coal cars.
consigned in accordance with order. out
of the West Virginia coalfelds. This
was the best movement of coal that this
railroad has shown IN that district in
sixty days.
From Philadelphia it was reported
that rail conditions generally on the
lines between Altoona and Philadel-
phia, which have been badly congested,
were much improved
Reports direct to the fuel admin
istration showed that coal in transit,
consigned to or already arrived at
tidewater points for the bunkering of
ships destined to the American forces
in Europe and to the nations associ-
ated with the United States in the war
were to-day more than sufficient to
bunker the ships now in port.
Supplies sufficient to insure ths
prompt bunkering of vessels for some