New-York tribune., 1918-02-06

heatless Monday programme cannot At
this time be abandoned, as had been
hoped.
The decision to continue the closing
was reached at conference between
! Fuel Administrator Ciarfild and Dircc-
tor General McAdoo, attended by 4
dozen state fuel administrators. There
was no official announcement, but d
joint statement probably will be given
out tomorrow. There had been every
indication, up to last night, that the
Monday holidays were over, but reports
brought to Washington by the state
fuel administrators that throughout
most Of the East there was on hand
but one days supply o. coal, coupled
with the weather situation, were ac-
ccptcd as convincing proof that the
present was no time to lift the closing
order
Even Mr. McAdoo, who up to this
time was understood to have opposed
have agreed that, until the weather
permitted an Improvement in railroad
transportation, the order should be con-
tnued in force.
Coal Production Cut
The blizzard has cut coal production
and movement to such an extent, Off
Gals pointed out tonight, that, even
had the Monday closings been aban-
doned, industry would be forced to
close down to a considerable extent
because of a lack of fuel supplies. In
tact, reports to the fuel administration
tonight showed that in many states
plants already arc closing in large
numbers.
1t vas emphasized that the fuel sd-
mlnistration is determined that what
coal is unloadcd and distributed shall
30 to householdcrs first. State fuel
administrator have been given almost
unlimited authority to divert coal from
other consumers to keep the people
warm in their homes.
For the first time since coal began
to run short, fuel administration Off.
Gals admit that the situation is alarm
ing. Report after report came during
the day telling of cities all the way
from the Mississippi to the Atlantic
with but few hours supply of fucf
on hand and prospects poor for obtain.
ing anything like the quantities needed.
In New England transportation was
declared hopeless. Trains were crippled
and an Atlantic storm had halted coal
movement By water. In PENNSYLVANIA
mines were idle, cities we're without
coal and trans were unable to move.
All industry in Indiana, it was said.
was about to shut down, and the sitlla-
tion IN ONO was so critical Governor
Cox planned to come to Washington to
make personal appeal for aid
Railroads Paralyzed
The railroads to-day were declared
TO be III the worst shape they have
been at any time during the winter
Low temperatures made it impossiblc
IN some instances Tor trainmcn to work.
and general freight movement was said
to be about SO per cen of normal.
lhcrc are some indications that if
better weather does not conc to i'm.
prove the situation officials will take
/ up Tor constipation an amendment to
INC closing order prescribing two four
! day shut-downs, one covering the NO..
Rod of Lincoln's Birthday anniversary
and the other Washington's Birthday.
Lincoln's Birthday, February IL, falls
on Tuesday, bringing three day holi.
day over Sunday, Monday and Tues.
day. II Saturday, usually observed as
| q half-holiday, were made a complete
holiday, this would give tour-dav
closing. -
washington Birthday, February 80
On Friday. offers another opportuuitv
- make Saturday IL complete lroliday
anc thus give another four.day closing
period o
Traffic Cut in Half
Railroad administration reports TO-.
day said freight movement had been
cut in half. and passenger traffic had
suffered equally. Coal formed the bulk
or the freight which struggling roads
were able to move through cold winds
and drifting snow, but deliveries every-
where were far below normal demands.
Prospects for material Improvement
in the next few days were gloomy
Railroad administration officials seized
eagerly on forecasts of slightly higher
temperatures moving eastward from
the West, but they pointed out that Il
would take days for the railroads to
recover. from the demoralizine infIu-
| ence OF to-day's low record tempera-
lures, with their accompaniment Of
high winds, which blew accumulated
snow in deep drifts over tracks which
only few days ago had been shovelled
clear. '~''eu