Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-06
COMMITTEE
FIGHTS JAM
fMcAdoo Names Men to
Divert Traffic to South
ern Ports
FUEL CRISIS GROWS
Further Shutdown Periods
Expected This Month as
Tie-Up Increases

u. A trtfic investigation committee to
N divert freight from congcsted gateways
|, was appointed today by Director Gem
, efal McAdoo. II includes Il. l.. Nit
chell. Chicago: J. f. Randolph New
York and c. Powell, Cincinnati, o.
81 McAdoos action will result in The i'm
J, mediate diversion of great amounts Of
freight to sauthern ports that the jam
at New York, Newport News md other
eastern water terminals may be re-
lieved.
The national railroad faces its great
est crisis of the winter In the East to-
day.
Renewed heavy SHOWS and bitter cold
sweeping through districts already stag
gering under coil and food lack has
paraiyzed the great transportation sys-
tenn to the danger point.
II has resulted IN continuing the
( workless-Monday order. which II had
been hoped could be revoked this week.
1t has opened up the possibility of fur
ther shutdown holidays with February
9-12 and 22-25 the four-day periods for
closing under consideration.
MANY COMMUNITIES SUFFER
Many communities are suffering se-
verely. Reports of no c, al on hand aud
no possibility Jf moving any in were
received fiom different points today.
Many industries a"c actually closing for
lack of fuel. The r. IL tie-up in some
parts IL threatening the food as well ns
the coal supply Intense cold is adding
to the suffering and transpC rtation con-
fusion.
Temperatures from 20 TO 40 below in
northern New York state drove train
men to seek shelter from the icy blasts,
leaving food. fuel and other necessities
waiting on the tracks. Some New Eng
land sections are running on twenty-tour
hours reserve supply CT coal. Train de-
lays at any time may result in direct
sun sring-coal cannot be bought at any
price In some sections.
Trains are being delayed on all inn
portant terminals, waiting for engines
from roundhouscs, due to inability to get
men to work. Regional Director Smith
wired Director General McAdCo late yes
terday.
Twenty engines and = large crew of
men worked to hlul snow-bounu trains
out of the blizzard west of Syracuse,
but cold drove the men to shelter and
they refused to continue work. Freight
operations in that territory are vir-
tually suspended.
BIG TONNAG REDUCTION
Reduction OF tonnage was from 20
10 oO per cent tnrouHnout inc S'"'H'-
swept region up to today lce-c'ogEed
switches, derailments and frozen brakes
were minor troubles added to the de.
Noralized condition.
Bunkering Of ships was hampered by
labor shortage due to cold. Coal barges
are caught In the New York harbor ice !
Total freight movement into New Eng |
land dropped to 1899 cars, half Of them
loaded with perishables
New Hampshire reported only a three
day coal supply on hand. the most fa-
vorable report from any of the State
fuel administrators. The Pennsylvania
administrator declared only one days
supply was on hand. Conditions in
Delaware, Maryland. Ohio and other
States are exceedingly grave and ex-
haustion Of the coal supplies In many
places seemed inevitable In face OF the
latest storm.