South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-24
EMBARGO ON
FREIGHT EAST
OF MISSISSIPPI
Voluntary Action by Railroads
to Continue fer Several
Days Until MiIder
Weather Comes.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24-An un- |
official embargo on all freight except |
food. fuel and munitions practically |
was in effect tonight east of the Mis- |
sissippi and north OF the Ohio and |
Potomac rivers as a result of Direc-
tor General McAdoo's authorized |
embargo today on three eastern !
trunk lines Although the restric- |
ton was applied formally only 20 the /
Pennsylvania and the Baltimore and !
Ohio, east Of Pittsburgh. and the |
Philadelphia and Reading. other |
railroads accepted little freight to-
day. particularly if it was destined |
for eastward movement.
This situation probably Will con-
tinue for several days until milder
weather permits railroads TO begin
10 move the great quantity of gen.
eraI freight accumulated during the
past two weeks of winter storms.
Factors contributing to the unOf
fetal eastern embargo were the pri-
ority of movement for coal and food
stuffs. and the continued preference
in coal deliveries given TO domestic
consumers, ships and certain war in
dustries which were exempted from
the fuel administrations general
closing order. The ban on coal con-
sumption was officially lifted at mid
night last night, but scores of manu-
featuring plants, unable TO divert
coal from the stream flowing to the
more essential industries, remained
closed or prepared to suspend oper-
atoms in a day or two when their
available coal stocks are gone. This
fact and the knowledge of many
shippers that ordinary freight had
little chance of prompt delivery,
tended To curtail the shipment offer
ings today
Plan Short Hauls.
To reduce railroad mileage in
hauling coal, some sort of zone
system of coal distribution probably
win be put into operation by the
railroad and fuel administrations
within a week Plans for such an
arrangement were discussed today at
a conference between Director Gen
eral McAdoo and Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield. both of whom announc-
ed later that they were working in
entire unison in developing a plan of
greatest efficiency for coal transpor-
tation.
Although weather remained cold
over most of the east today the lack
of new snowfall enabled the rail
roads to make a slight Improvement
in the traffic situation. The flow of
coal eastward to the Atlantic sea-
board and New England was some
what greater. and the supply of
empty cars TO mining regions was
larger Nowhere was there any near
approach to normal conditions, how
ever. and railroad administration Of
ficials pointed out that the full effect
of the low coal production and dis
tribution would not be felt for sew
eral days
Car Shortage Hits Mines.
The number OF ships awaiting
bunker coal at Atlantic ports was
smaller today, but freezing of coal
i'm the cars still hampered dumping,
and ice in harbors interfered with
lighterage. The supply Of empty
cars TO the Pennsylvania anthracite
regions was nearly normal, though
the central Pennsylvania bituminOus
district got only about half its usual
number. Car shortage compelled In
diana mines to work at 20 percent
capacity.
About 80 mines i'm the Pocahontas
field OF West Virginia and Virginia
suspended work. West Virginia got
about two-thirds its normal car sup
ply and the Pittsburgh district about
half. Loading in the latter field was
about 90 percent normal.
Coal supplies i'm Ohio and Indiana
for domestic and commercial pur-
poses were reported very low. but
prospects were said to be bright for
improvement within a day or two
The movement TO Michigan and Chi
cago was far better than in previous
days and meat and livestock moved
eastward in considerable quantities
today.
The dumping Of coal at the tide
water was particularly retarded to-
day at Hampton Roads, whose
southern latitude heretofore render
ed thawing apparatus unnecessary.
Weather conditions at Norfolk were
reported today as worse than for
many years and a number of ships
were held up for lack of coal
Temperatures ranged not far from
the zero mark over much Of the
country tonight, but warmer weather
was in prospect later in the week.
and when il comes, railroad officials
look for much Improvement in trans
portation.