Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-01-24
ASKS EMBARG0ES
ON THREE ROADS
Fuel Chief Would Give Food. Coal
and Munitions Right
of Way.
CONGESTION MUST END SOON
Pennsylvania Lines in the East, Balti.
more & Ohio and Reading Dese-
nated-HoIidays Ordered for
Cities in Iowa.

more & Ohio and Reading Desis-
nated-HoIidays Ordered for
Cities in Iowa.
Washington, Jan. pa general en-
barge upon three railroads against
shipments of all freight except food
and fuel and certain war munitions
and supplies was requested by Fuel
Administrator Harry A Garfield
The request was contained in a
memorandum sent by him to Director
General of Railroads McAdoo. An
embargo was put on the Norfolk 4
Western.
Mr.. Garfield would have the embar-
go apply to the Pennsylvania lines
east of Pittsburgh, the Baltimore &
Ohio and the Philadelphia & Reading.
Garfeld's Memorandum.
In his memorandum Mr.. Garfield
said:
The press reports show that the
Pennsylvania railroad, with the ap-
proval of A, II. Smith, placed an EN-
barge on Monday upon all freight ex-
cept food and fuel. 1t will be observed
that these exceptions are practically
the same as the exceptions made in
the order with respect to the use of
fuel
The action authorized by this one
day embargo should be taken for sew
eral days, adding to the exceptions
certain war munitions and supplies
not only upon the Pennsylvania lines
east of Pittsburgh but also upon the
Baltimore K Ohio lines and the Phila-
delphia & Reading lines, which form,
with certain Baltimore & Ohio lines,
Il through route to the seabOard. Such
an embargo would be especially effec-
tive if it could follow Immediately the
five days covered by the January II
order.
Car Shortage Was Acute.
During the last two months of 1917
the car shortage on the lines men
toned was increasingly acute.
1T neutraliZed every effort for in
creased production at the mines. La
bOr differences were adjusted and
prices resulting therefrOm were fixed.
Without cars, however, coal could not
be produced. The empty cars were
not at the mines. The congestion OF
ths $lack vas sach that the loaded
cars did not reach their consignees.
while the railroads were operated
separately, although III Il cooperative
plan, they seemed to have found it i'm
possible TO remedy this situation, and
since a director general of railroads
has been appointed we have had moth
ing but unprecedentedly severe
weather, almost multiplying his efforts.
Must Be "Entire Cessation"
"TO relieve present congestions and
to speed up the movement of coal
and coke cars TO and from the mines
and ovens, it seems apparent that
there must for Il few days, be an al
most entire cessation, particularly on
the roads mentioned, of all freight,
with the exception above noted.
Mr.. Garfield cites figures showing
loss in coal production due TO car
shortages, especially on the Pennsyi-
vania and Baltimore & Ohio railroads.
summary of the result Of the five days
in which the factories of the eastern
half of the country have been shut
down.
Order Serves Its Purpose.
The summary follows:
Our reports show that the prime
purpose sought to be accomplished by
the reguIation-the bunkering of ships
and the supplying of domestic consum-
ers and public utilities with cOal-has
been greatly served.
Local officials of the fuel admins
tratiOn in all parts of the East report
ed that domestic consumers, public
utilities and other consumers on the
preferred list in the industrial curtail-
ment order were being given the full
benefit Of the coal moving into the
consuming territory.
"A% a result of the patriotic coop
Grafton of American industry, cap
ital and labor the way has been cleared
for the prompt bunkering of ships
which long were tied up at Atlantic
ports waiting to carry vitally needed
supplies TO the American forces abroad
and to the nations associated with the
United States in the war"
The necessity for some new meth
od Of dealing with the coal transporta-
ton problem was emphasized by scores
of reports that weather conditions
were as bad or worse than at any
time since the unprecedented period
of coal and stormy weather started
nearly two weeks ago. Heavy snow
throughout New York and New Eng
land. in Pennsylvania, West Virginia
and elsewhere made traffic movement
extremely slow and cut the supply Of
empty cars to coal mines far below
even the subnormal supply of the last
few days.
Holidays in Iowa Cities.
Des Moines, Ia, Jan. 23.-Charles
Webster, fuel administrator for Iowa,
issued a closing order affecting the
cities of Keokuk, Fort Madison, Burl-
ingtOn. Davenport, Clinton and
Dubuque. The order puts the Monday
closing regulations, general in Illinois
and the East, into effect in the cities
mentioned. in order TO avoid discrimin-
alton against Illinois river towns.