New-York tribune., 1918-01-22
Ports Receive Fuel for $50
Waiting Vessels,
He Says
Weather Blocks
Freight Relief
Tugs and Barges in New
York To Be Comman-
deered, if Needed
Try Tho Associated pnssl

so"c1uiuenL III CLOSING DOWN INDUSTRY
by cutting OFF fuel supplies have been
achieved, Fuel Administrator Garfield
announced tonight.
Homes throughout the East, he said,
are receiving coal IN larger quantities
than has been reported for weeks and
bunker coal again is moving to sea-
board in sufficient volume to supply
transatlantic shipping.
A thi-d aiU--thc clearing Of railroad
congestion has not been attained as
yet. largely, DR.. Garfield declared, be-
cause Of unusual weather conditions.
The first of the ten Monday holidays
was observed generally today. and
business everywhere in the East was ut
standstil(. Reports tonight told of
few violations of the order, and said
that thousands Of establishments were
closed, even though they had a tcchni-
cal right to remain open.
$50 Ships Receive Fuel
Reports tonight said New York had
on hand enough coal to fill the bunk
ers of fifty vessels, and Hampton Roads
had received supplies sufficient for the
more than one hundred ships held in
port
I'VE are supplying coal to the piers"
Saiu ~. Halheld. IL now is qucS-
tlcn Of putting it aboard ship"
The heavy movement of coal to ports
has taxed tug and barge facilities
heavily. Despite pooling arrange
ment put into operation at New York,
1t was found difficult to handle receipts
At the Shipping Board office tonight
1T was said that both tugs and barges
there would be commandeered if neces-
sary to make the work more efficient,
but officials were Of the opinion that
pooling would suffice. J. +. Parsons,
special representative of the board at
New York, in charge of bunkering, has
received full authority to exercise the
boards communicating power in his
discretion.
Patrol Freight Embargocs
The Pennsylvania Railroad, with the
approval Of A. II. Smith, director of
Eastern railroads, to-day declined to
accept at its stations any general
freight for shipment 1t took only
food and coal and made an effort to
move freight already on its lines.
Some other lines accepted new freight,
but made no attempt to move it.
asked tonight if he would extend
the hve days industrial closing if it
appeared that the accomplishments
sought had not been fully obtained,
l'r. Garfield said he did not wish to
cross that bridge until he came to it.
here Will be ten heatless Mondays,
DR.. Garfield said, despite pressure to
have their number reduced
Exemptions, it was indicated aeai,
to-day, will Lot be increased A re-
guest by certain department stores
that they be permitted to remain opep
on Monday and operate only seven
hours for six days a week was refused.
DR.. Carfcld's Statement
DR.. Garfield this afternoon issued the
following statement:
Despite zero weather over practical
ly all the northeastern part of the
country, reports to the fuel admins
tratlon TO-DAY indicated continued
progress in the bunkering of ships az
Atlantic ports and the supplyinpe Of
domestic consumers under the Admin
Istratlon's Industrial curtailmcnt reeu-
lation
Railroad operation was reported as
slackening in certain parts of the
country under the tremendous pressure
of the cold wave. But the general OBJ
servance of the fuel administrations
regulation had confined practically all
of the freight now moving to coal for
bunkering ships and for keeping the
country warm, and all of the progress
made benefited these particular con-
sumers
Coal destined to South Atlantic
ports for bunkering ships was moving
promptly. and the bunkerlng machinery
at ports was handling the coal as rap
IDLY as possible. Much of this coal was
frozen IN the cars. and in many cases
1T was necessary to thaw it by steam
or to build fires under the cars
"Over the weekend southern Attain
tic ports handled aproximately $4,000
tons for ships. More than 1875 900 tons
was on hand at these ports at room
Monday available for loading. Prefer
ence was given to ships loading for
government account at Southern ports
to-day.
NORTHERN ports over the week end
handled about $4,000 tons of coal for
ships and had on hand upward of 5O,.
oyI tons. Reports from local officials
OF she fuel administration throughout
me country indicated almost complete
coopera.lon of all establishments af-
1ected ny the curtailment regulation.
IN many cases establishments which un-
oer the strict letter of the order would
Eot nave been required to close had
patrioticaly agreed to suspend business
10 meet the spirit of the order.
reports of general railroad condi-
tlons In the eastern part of the country
Indicated an increasingly rapid move.
ment of empty coal cars back to the
mines. Railroads reported a steady
now OF empty cars from east to west.
1T was clear that at the end of from
zen TO twenty days usually allowed for
.ae round trip of coal cars from mine
TO consumer the full effect of the order
would be shown in securing for the
mines car supply greater than had
been available for mining purnos.s
since the beginning of cold weather
Cars were being rapidly unoaded at
destination and turned over to the rail
roads empty for the return trip.
The railroads, unhampered by pen-
eral freight movement, were in a posi-
tion to clear the way through terminals
Tor these returning coal cars, which
thus will be enabled to make an unin-
terrupted journey back to the mines.'
A new ruling regarding the sale of
food OH Mondays was made tonight
In the original order all food stores
We're directed to close at noon but last
night they were exempted entirely
from operation Of the regulations. To-
nsGht the following telegram was sent
20 state Fuel Administrators in respect
20 these stores:
"All Wholesale and retail stores sell
lng food are urged both by the food
aud fuel administrations, on patriotic
grounds. TO close at noon Mondays, OK
cept that wherever necessary distribu-
'aoN of food to the people is cndan
Gered by closing, food stores arc at
hOerty 30 remain open all dav Tho