Evening star., 1918-01-20
Mr.. Hurley Assists.

Pooling was suggested to the fuel ad-
ministration by A. II. Smith, assistant
director general of railroads. who de-
clared that some piers supplt41 with
goal had nc-harEqss raFNH - 5fl
that others with no cbal on hand vere
well supplied with bAfges. Cf&l4 5nan
Hurley last night started q speeiAI rep
resentatiye, to New York-to aSe4Ak Nj.
Smith and j. W. Searles, representatives,
Of the fuel administration. in putting
through the pooling arrangement.
Reports from New York said that
thirteen ships were bunkered there
yesterday, despite heavy ice that in
terfered with barge movement. Rail-
road officials reported that coal was
moving much more freely to the piers.
and that 1t now was question only of
getting it aboard ships Men will be
kept hard at work all day today in the
principal Atlantic ports keeping the
coal moving.
Il am determined to take any steps"
said Fuel Administrator Garfield last
night. which may be necessary with
in my authority to facilitate the sup
plying Of ships with fuel"
Empty Cars Delayed.
A new danger threatened the coal
output yesterday. Empty cars began
to reach the chief bituminous mining
regions in diminishing numbers. This
was due, it was said. in part to delay
attending the diversion of coal from in
dustries closed down to those permit
ted to run. In most of the big indus
trial centers switching work was al
was considerable confusion in dis
tributing the coal that arrived
Mr.. Gar6eld's Statement. =
Fuel Administrator Garfield last
night issued a statement on the gen.
eral situation in which he said:
THE general compliance and almost
complete cooperation in the enforce
ment of the fuel administration regu-
lation curtailing industrial use. of fuel
were reported to the United States Fuel
Administration today. Local officials of
the fuel administration throughout the
east reported that the order was gen.
orally effective. The spirit of CO o-opera-
ton showed plainly in the many tele-
grams received by the fuel adminis-
tration. kilograms received today were
singularly free from requests for ex-
emption from the regulation. Most Of
them made the fiat statement that the
regulation would be complied with, in
fact and in spirit; that manufacturing
would be halted, and that merchandise
would be kept off the crowded rail-
roads.
Way Cleared for Coal.
Railroad officials cooperating with the
fuel administration reported generally
improved transportation conditions in
the eastern part Of the country The
reports indicated that the way was rap
idly being cleared for the movement Of
coal for the bunkering of the ships now
neld up at Atlantic ports and for keep
ing the country warm. Improvement
vas also noted in the central west, de-
spite the continued zero weather which
has been impeding railroad operation.
Reports from the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad showed a car supply of
1,SO5 cars available for coal mines in
western Virginia. This was an in
crease of 400 over the number avail
able the day before. On the first day
the restrictive regulation was effec-
tive the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
moved 1100 coal cars. consigned in
accordance with orders. out of the
west Virginia coal fields. This was
the best movement of coal that this
railroad has shown in that district in
sixty days.
Philadelphia Situation.
From Philadelphia it was reported
that rail conditions generally on the
lines between Altoona and Phfladel-
mia, which have been badly congested,
were much improved.
"Reports direct to the fuel administra-
tion showed that coal in transit consigned
to or already arrived at tidewater points
for the bunkering of ships destined to the
American forces in Europe and to the