Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-17

Washington, Jan. 16. - Americas manufacturing enterprises with but few exceptions, in all states east of the Mississippi river, were ordered by the government tonight to spspend opera tions for five days beginning Friday morning as a drastic measure for re- iieving the fuel famine.
 At the same time as further means of relief 1t was directed that industry and business generally. including all normal activities that require heating buildings, observe as holiday every Monday for the next ten weeks. This will close down on Mondays not only factories. but saloons, stores except for the sale of drugs and food, places of amusement and nearly all office buildings.
 While the order does not mention ship yards, it is known that they will be permitted to continue operations as usual. although intuition plants will be closed.
 Order Came Without Warming.
 The governEnent,s~mo came en- tirely without warning in an order issued by Fuel Administrator Gar field with the approval of President Wilson prescribing stringent restric- tions governing the distribution and use of coal. It was decided upon hur- riedly by the president and govern ment heads as a desperate remedy for the fuel crisis and the transportation tangle in the eastern states. Even intuition plants are not excepted from the closing down order.
 Officials tonight would not discuss the far reaching effects the actiorj would have on the industrial fabric, and questions as to how the order was to be interpreted to meet specific problems went unanswered.
 Preferential List.
 The order prescribes a preferential list of consumers in whose interest it was drawn. These. users will get coal 'in the following order:
 Railroads.
 Household consumers, hospitals charitable institutions, and army and navy cantonments.
 Public utilities. telephone and tele- graph plants.
 Strictly government enterprises, ex- cepting factories and plants working on government contracts.
 Public buildings and necessary gov. ernment. state and municipal require ments.
 Factories producing perishable foods and foods for immediate consumption
 Announcement of the provisions o1 the order was made by Fuel Admin. istrator Garfield after a White House conference which was attended alst by Secretaries Baker and Daniels. Ear. Tier in the day Dr. Garfield had sough the views of other officials and it wa. the unanimous opinion that the meas ure contemplated was necessary un- der the circumstances.
 As first drawn and as approved A the White House the order called fo, the closing of factories beginning to morrow morning. This was changed upon the consideration of the confus ion which would result when millions Of workers went to their duties un aware of the governments step.
 War Industries Included.
 Inclusion of war industries amon those to which the fuel will be denie, caused some surprise, but fuel off cials explained tonight that war plant have been producing so much nor material than the transportation sys tems can handfo that no serious ef fleets will be felt. War supplies manu factured for export have moved f 'seaboard faster than ships can nov them.
 An exception is made in the case c shipbuflding plants because of tn great need for vessels to move sun plies already ready for shipment over seas.
 Fuel Administration officials wi make an effort to increase productio at the coal mines during the perio that other business is suspended. Mine under contract to supply industrie shut down will be directed in supple mentary orders to send their outpr elsewhert- Coal loaded and on ii way to these industries will be divert ed.
 To Save 3o,o0o,ooo Tons.
 It was estimated tonight the eu forcement of the order would save total of thirty million tons of bitumi nous coal, which probably is abor hl,f the present shortage. The indj cations were that at the end of th t7a weeks of Monday holidays d pe1 II. lcnt policy of restricted consumr ron would have been determined a, This plan will limit the use of co, t1 the less essential industries unds q self-rationing basis.
 Louisiana and Minnesota, which I .tly on both sides of the Mississir r. were specifically included as role in the list of states to whic the order applies. The order is es pected to go far towards clearin choked> and congested railroad tracl and terminals. It was regarded tc