The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-18
GARFIELD GIVES
HIS REASONS FOR
COAL RESTRICTION

DR.. Harry A. Garfield issued the
following statement last night:
"Srhe most urgent thing to be done
is to send to the American forces
abroad and to the allies the food and
war supplies which they vitality need.
War munitions, food. manufactured
articles OF every description lie at
our Atlantic ports in ten4 OF thou
sands OF tons, while literally hum
dreds of ships, waiting loaded with
war goods for our men and our allies,
cannot take the seas because their
bunkers are empty OF coal The coal
to send them on their way is waiting
behind q congested freight that has
jammed all terminals.
Congestion at Tidewater.
at IL worse than useless to bend
our energies to more manufacturing
when what we have already manu-
featured lies at tidewater congesting
terminal facilities. jamming the rail-
road yards and sidetracks for long
distances back into the country. No
power on earth can move this freight
into the war zone. where IL IL need
ed. until we supply the ships with
fuel.
"Once the docks are cleared of the
valuable freight for which our men
and associates in the war now walt
in vain. then again our energies and
power may be turned to manufacture
more efficiently than ever, so that q
steady and uninterrupted stream OF
vital supplies may be this nations
answer to the allies cry for help.
Exeesn ProduetIou.
1T has been excess of production
in our wartime speeding up that has
done so much to cause congestion on
our railroads: that has filled the
freight yards to OVERLOOKING; that
has flooded the docks OF our Atlantic
ports with goods waiting to 60
abroad. At tidewater the flood Of
freight has stopped. The ships were
unable to complete the journey from
our factories to the war depots be-
hind the firing line.
Added to this has been a difficulty
OF Transporting coal for our own do
nestle needs. On top of these diff
cuItIes has come one OF the most ter
ribly severe winters we have known
in years.
1.-THE wheels were choked and stop
ped. Zero weather has Enowbound
trains: terminals congested. harbors
with shipping frozen in; rivers and
canals impossible; 1t was useless to
continue manufacture and pile con-
fusion on top OF confusion.
"A clear line from the manufactur-
ing establishment to the seaport and
beyond-that was the imperative
need. 1t was like soldiers marching
to the front The men Of the fore
most rank must have room to pass.
shock Was Needed.
More than q shock was needed to
make a way through that congestion
at the terminals and on the docks,
so that the aid so vitality needed by
the allies could get through.
The incidental effect OF this trans
portation situation on coal production
has been disastrous. There is and al.
ways. has been plenty Of fuel, but II
cannot be moved to those places
ySkere-- II lis 50 badly needed while
railroad lines and terminals are
choked. Throughout the coal fields
scores even hundreds Of mines are
lying idle because of railroad inability
TO supply the cars to carry away the
coal.
Production Reduced.
Goal mines cannot operate with
out cars. Cars cannot be supplied
while the railroads are crippled by
the present freight congestion which
keeps idle cars lying useless in the