The Washington herald., 1918-01-14
Navy Yard Workers Vote
to Go on Hunt for
Coal" "
LACK OF FUEL HALTS
COUNTRY'S WAR WORK
Nation Supply Decreases
Rapidly as Transportation
Problem Continues.

OeNeral thousand machInIStS and
other employees of the Washington
Navy Yard have resolved to quit
work within a few days unless they
find relief from suffering caused by
coal shortage.
This decision was reached follow
ing three-hour discussion of the
situation at the meeting of the
Columbia Lodge of Machinists.
No "a. last Wednesday evening in
Naval Lodge Hall. Fourth street
and Pennsylvania avenue southeast.
Scores of employees already have
resigned from the yard and left
Washington for the South, it !,
claimed, because of their inability
to obtain fuel to keep their home,
warm.
Coal shortage Acute.
list that has been circulated
among the yard employees for the sig
natures OF those in need OF coal al
ready has more than LOO names, ana
many more will be added before All
nave been canvassed. II is said.
W. W. heeler. president Of Columbia.
Lodge, said last night that no definite
GATE has been set by the men whs-
they will quit.
Inability OF yard employees TO obtain
coal Tor their hones was brought %
1he attention of Capt A. J.. Willard.
conmandant OF the yard. a month ago
ana the matter was laid before IN.
Fuel Administration
Al the meeting OF the Columbia
Lodse Nednesday evening heated de-
bate occupied the entire evening
Many OF the yard employees declared,
Ihelr intention of resigning ans, Roir.,-I
South. where the need OF coal was ,,I
so great
II was this declaration which l,ro,,,t,.
me determination to quit in a bod, n
coal is not forthcon7ing- One ~ 81
members jumped to his feet and iyrrad
that this course be pursued .;,,,,,,,,,,,l
ers rallied Immediately and the acton
was determined upon
Many present advocated the c.,ls,,,,
Of strike, but this wss over17IIaT
MI keeler, president Of the union.
sal0 there would be no strike.
The men will. however. quite in
body. h said, while they try to fnd
some coal They will stay out until
they do find it,
Strangers Suffer MOst.
Thousands Of new smDioyes Of the
yard have recently come 20 Washing
ton, Mr.. Keeler said, and these mar
ti"ularly have experienced difficulty-
amounting to an impossibility-in md
ing coal to keep their homes warm.
The reserve supply of coal used in
the Navy Yard itself is low. At pres
ent there is less than ona-third OF the
normal reserve OF coal on hand in the
yard.
Coal consigned to Washington and to
the Navy Yard. shipped from the
mines here has been diverted by the
nited states Fuel Administra ton to
other cities, while the sunplv in tins
! city and the Navy Yard. one ~ an.
Gost important naval yards IA the
country. has been constantly diminish
ing.
Much OF the most important ord
nance work Of the navy is done In The
yard. Suspension Of operations due.
10 walkout of the men or TN. eN-
haustion OF the reserve supply OF
coal would be serious blow to the
war machinery OF the country.
The condition OF the navy yard and
the employees was indicative OF ths
rest or the city. In every section sIr-
1etlng was acute from the lack OF
coal. Shipments received here r,.-
Gently have been far below normal
and II Will require many days ship
ments Of several thousands OF tons
above the daily needs OF the city 10
make up the deficit.
Arrivals here Saturday morning. ac-
cording TO figures made public by the
United States Fuel Administration.
showed approximately 300 tons 81
anthracite.
All the northeaster section OF the
country faces a critical ten-dsv
shortage Of coal, worse than any
experienced this winter.
reports received last night hv the
Director General OF Railroads state
that all freight movements bsyo
been abandoned east from PITTS
burgh and Buffalo. Coal cars ar.
piled up by the thousands at yari-
, Gus switching centers. SwrcbinR
has been paraIyzed.
Freight Held UH.
No freight is moving out Of
Pittsburgh or Buffalo to ChicaFo.
Passenger service has becn
abandoned on all through service
east Of Chicago; only a few locals
are moving. No passenger trains
are in operation east Of Buffalo
and Pittsburgh.
Conditions are worse than the
railroad administration anticInsted
Saturday night. Blizzard weatl.
with the temperature from J. 90
rs degrees below zero. pr- yails
west OF Buffalo and Pittsbr N 20
Chicago and further west az south
to the Ohio river. Ever hing is
at a standstill.
Little hope for relief 6 expected