Evening journal., 1918-01-26
COAL RESERVES AND
ZONE PLAN ADOPTED
Great Storage Points TO Be
Established Near All
Large Cities
NEW RATING ALSO
IS MADE KNOWN

and the congestion OF railway trsfflc
were taken yesterday when It was an
nounced that a zone system, including
a plan for laying up in the summer vast
reserves Of coal that will make impos-
sible this winters troubles, had been
decided upon both for the production
and the distribution Of coal. A zone
system for clearing Atlantic seaboard
railway congestion was also placed be-
fore Dlrector-General McAdoo.
The new developments include these
ideas:
The division Of the bituminous coal
districts into twenty producing zones,
with director In charge Of each. Seven
zone directors were named.
The secondary formation Of like con-
suming zones, situated with regard to
State lines and proximity to the pro-
duclng zones, to be supplied by the lat
ter.
The formation OF reserve points near
all large centers, at which stocks Of
coal will be boarded, not to be touched
excepting in emergency until the de-
mands the succeeding winter
The making Of an Atlantic seaboard
traiflc zone for the handling Of all
freight destined for Atlantic seaboard
ports.
The decision TO issue Sunday a dras-
tic order TO prevent many lines Of busl-
ness that have violated the fuel order
for Monday holidays or evaded it, by
which candy, cigar and other stores
will be forced to close on Monday.
The making Of a ruling by the Fuel
Administration that producers will moi
be permitted to add i5 cents ton in
crease granted TO meet wages 90 sale
when President Wilson fixed coal
contracts made prior to August 2i
when President Wilson fixed coal prices
The announcement that any increase
by industrial establishments OF the
usual working time on other days Of
the week TO make up time lost on Mon
days would be considered an evasion OF
the Monday closing order.
The order OF Director-Gencral Nc
Adoo for Western railroads and ship
pers OF live stock. grain and other COM
modltes destined for New York, 10
transmit such shipment through Mem
nhis and over Southern roads that have
less congestion than the East.
Standing prominently out among the
various portentlous acts OF the day was
the decision TO create fuel reserves sta
tlons near the large centcrs for the
keeping Of coal stocks that might be
drawn upon for the demands Of next
winter.
At New York it Is understood much
vacant land in or near Westchestel
county will be used for storing emer.
gency coal 10 be used by the Bronx
upper Manhattan and Nonkers. Another
storage point will be on Long IslanC
from which location the needs Of lowei
Manhattan and Brooklyn will be met
Great stores will be assembled Eeai
Newark, and It is possible that re
serve will be assembled on Slater
Island.
In discussing the plan Dr. Garfield
said: THE plan for the coming veal
calls for two weeks reserve suppl!
in the larger centers Of the country.
do not mean that we will have a re-
serve in New York and other large cities
great enough to SUPPLY every furnace
for two weeks, but IL will be largl
enough so that in emergency persons
unable 10 store coal will be able TO &c
coal from the reserve stock for twl
weeks.
In the matter Of making the zone di
visions for the coal producing sections
from which bituminous coal comes tn
selection OF the twenty districts wa
stated 10 be the first step toward in
stltuting a zone system Of distribution
somewhat on the order OF that used II
England. Boundaries for the first sever
districts were established yesterday
and then, with the aid Of the Railroad
Administration, the Fuel Administrator
will come along with the consuming
zones, each OF which will be taken car
OF by one Of the producing districts.
Joint committee from the two admins
trations is working out the zone prob
lem and will mage a definite announce
ment within a few days.
The producing districts already estab
llshed and the Fuel Administration
representatives therein are Southeast
ern Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee
e. R. Clayton, OF Harlan, Ky; Gaule
fields OF West Virginia on the Baltlmor
and Ohio, D. r. Lawson, Of Fairmoni
w. Va; Gauley fields Of West Nirgini
on the Chesapeake and Ohio and par
OF the Norfolk and Western field ii
West Virginia; A. II. Land, OF Hunting
ton. w. Va; Alabama, f. A. Holmes
Birmingham; Indiana, c. G. Hall, Terr
Haute; Southern Ohio and Maso
county. West Virginia, w. D. Mckinney
and Northern Ohio, ]. r. Zerbey.
The district representatives in ever
instance will be operators or men IA
mlliar with coal production. They wi
allot all orders received from State fut
administrators and will be made re
spOnsible for the prompt movement q
coal out Of the producing fields. All de
mands foremergency coal viii so di
rectly 10 them. Anthracite is not In
cluded in the zoning plan be'ause mos
OF II is mined In a narrow strip OF ter
ritory in Pennsylvania.
The chief dlfilcculty looked for In ad
ministration OF the zone system IS e1
pected 10 come from the demand 10
specific grades Of coal Producers In
district serving a specified consumin
district will be permitted TO sell In n
other. Consumers will be required {
purchase In the districts serving thel
territory.
The men who have been appointed I
handle the zones and those who VIII b
named for the other zone will be In d
rect touch with fuel administrators Z
the States TO which coal will be ser
from various districts under the mes
coming plan Each tSate Will be give
an allotment from a particular minin
district, and It shall be the duty OF tn
district representatives TO see that eac
State receives its allotment Announc,