The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-06

The blizzard has cut coal production and movement to such an extent that officials pointed out tonight that even had the Monday closings been aban- doned industry would be forced to close down to considerable extent because of lack of fuel. In fact, reports to the fuel administration tonight showed that
 in many states plants already are clos
 ing in large numbers.
 HOUSEHOLDERS FIRST
 It was emphasized that the fuel ad- ministration Is determined that what coal is unloaded and distributed shall go to householders first State fuel adminis- traitors have been given almost unlimited authority to divert coal from other con- sumers to keep the people warm in their homes,
 For the first time since coal began to run shoft fuel administration officials ad-s unit ti.at the rituafion is alarming Re- port alter report came during the day 1 telling of cities all the way from the Mississippi to the Atlantic with only few hours supply of fuel on hand and prospects poor for obtaining anything like the quantities needed.
 NEW ENGLAND
 l In New England transportation was de- clared hopeless. Trains were crippled and an Atlantic storm had halted coal movement by water. In Pennsylvania mines were idle cities were without coal I and trains were unable to move All ! in Tpd about to shut down and the situation in Ohio was so critical that Governor Cox planned to come to Washington to 1 make personal appeal for aid.
 The railroads today were declared to l be in the worse shape they have been at any time during the winter. Low tenn peratures made 1t impossible in some in- stances for trainmen to work and general 1 freight movement was said to be about 50 per cent of normal
 l There are some indications that If bet ter weather does not come to improve the situation officials will take LID for consideration an amendment to the clos ing order prescribing two four-day shut downs. one covering the period of Lin coln's birthday anniversary. and the oth- CT Washington's birthday Lincoin's birthday, February F, falls on Tuesday. bringing q three-day holiday over Sun day, Monday. Tuesday. If Saturday. usually observed as half holiday, were
 made a complete holiday there will be four closing days in the one week. Washingtons birthday, February p, on
 Friday offers another opportunity to
 make Saturday 9 complete holiday and thus give another four-day closing pe- riod.
 1 FREIGHT MOVEMENT SLOW Railroad administration reports today
 said freight movement had been cut in
 half, and passenger traffic suffered equal ly Coal formed the bulk of the freight
 which struggling roads were able to
 move through cold winds and drifting
 snow, but deliveries everywhere were far
 below normal demands.
 Prospects for material improvement in
 the next few days were gloomy. Rail-
 road administration officials seized eager Fly on forecasts of slightly higher tenn lperatures moving eastward from the
 west. but they pointed out that it will
 take days for the railroads to recover
 from the demoralizing influence of to-
 days low record temperatures, with
 their accompaniment of high winds. which blew accumulated snow in deep 4 drifts over tracks which only a few days ago had been shovelled clear
 Of the hundreds of factories which probably will have to suspend operations for several days this week owing to
 lack of coal. the first to be affected will be those standing low on the fuel ad- ministration's list of preferred industries. Coal dealers selling to domestic con- isumers. public utilities. hospitals and
 other public institutions, ships and man ufacturers of food and war supplies will get the coal delivered by the crippled railroads under priority orders Even some of these may suffer. however. as a result of the complete stoppage of traf- Ific in many localities today