Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17
FACTORIES GIVEN
ORDERS TO CLOSE. ].
DOWN FIVE DAYS
Regulation Becomes Effec-
tive Friday Morning in
All Eastern States.
MONDAY is DESIGNATED -
AS LEGAL HOLIDAY
-- iil.s
President Wilson Backs Fuel hd.
ninistrator Garfield in Far-sst.''.
Reaching Plan.
rHEATERS ALSO FEEL EFFECrs
Stores and Public Office Buildings
Are Denied Right to Burn
Coal for Heating.
MONDAY is DESIGNATED ~.
AS LEGAL HOLIDAY
THEATERs ALSO FEEL EFFECrs
fRy Associated pres.1

fBy Associated Prcss.1 -,
WASHINGTON, January 1s.-tmer-
ica's manufacturing enterprise with
but few exceptions in all States cast
OF the Mississippi River was ordered
by the government Tonight TO suspend
operations for five days beginning Fri.
day morning as a drastic measure for
relieving the fuel famine
At the same time, AZ a fur ther ,ni,sr,.
Of relief, It was directed that industry
and business generally. including all
normal activities that require heated
buildings. observe as a holiday every
Monday for the next ten weeks This
will close down IN Mondays not only
factories but saloons. stores, except
for the sale OF drugs and food. plaSes
of amusement and nearly all Office
buildings While tha order does not
mention shtpyards. 1t IL known that
they will be permitted to- continue sop.
Grafton as usual although munition
plants Will spp ;closed.st[ 49, as
The governments move carbe en-.
tirely without warning in an order Isl
sued by Fuel Administrator Garfield
with the approval of President Wilson
prescribing stringent restrictions gov
erninE the distribution and use OF coal.
1t was decided upon hurricdiy by the
President and government heads aa a
desperate remedy for the; fuel crisis
and the transportation tanglc in the
Eastern States. Even munition plants
are not excepted from the closing.
down order.
Officials tonight would not discuss
the far-reachirs effects the action
would have On the industrial fabric,
and questions as to how the order wan
to be interpreted to meet specific prob
lens went unanswered.
WHO WILL BE SUPPLIED
WITH Fuel UNDER RULH
The order prcscrlbcS Il preferential
list OF consumers in whose interest 1t
was drawn. These usars will get coal
in the following order:
Railroads. household consunlera. hos.
pitals. charitable institutions and army
and ravy cantonmenls.
Public utilitieo, telephone and tels~
graph plants.
Strictly government enterprises, eI.
ccpting factories and plants working
on government contracts.
Public buildings and necessary Sos-
ernmeut, State and municipal require
mentS.
Factories producing perishable foods
and foods for immediate consumption
Announce of the provisions OF
the order was made by Fuel Adniipis-
traitor Garfield after a White liouss
conference, which was attended also
by Secretaries Eal<cr and Daniels.
Earlier in the day. DIR. Garfield had
sought the views OF other o1Iclals,
and it was said tonight the unani-
nous opinion was that the measure
contemplated was necessary under thi
circumstances.
A. first drawn and as approved at
tho White House. the order called for
the closing OF factories beginning to-
morrow morning. This was changed.
upon consideration of the confusios
which would result when millions OF
workers went to their duties unawars
OF tho governments step. s.s
Inclusion o. war industries among
those to which fuel will be denied
caused some surprise. but fuel oclcial5
explained that war plants have been
producing SO much moro material thaa
the transportation systems can handle
that no serious effects will be felt.
War supplies manufactured for export
have moved to scabcard faster than
ships can niovo them.
An exception Is made in the casesof
GhipbuildinE plants because Of the
great need for vessels, to move sup-
plies already ready FOR ahipmcnt oyer
seas.
Will MAGE EFFORT TO
INCREASE MINE PRopUC11o!s
Fuel aGministration chicials will
make an effort TO increase production
at the coal mines during the period
that other business Is suspended. Asines
under contract to supply industries
shut down Will be directed In suppIe-
'ncntary orders 10 send thcir output
elsewhere. Coal loaded and on its ra5
to these industries will be diverted. ~
II WAS cstimntcd tonight thn as
forcencnt or the order would save
total OF So.ooo,ooo tons OF bituaa inous
coal. which probably Is about hah .ths
present shortage. rhe indtcatiens vare
that at. the end ot tho ton wesks ck
Monday holidays permanent raitea
Of restricted cenaump.ion wsuid hav4