The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-14
Critical Ten-Day Shortage of
Fuel Inevitable - Sitwching
lmpracticable
PASSENGER SERVICE
BROUGHT TO STANDSTILL
Garfield Considering Advisa-
bilisy OF Curtailing Use OF
Coalin All Industries--Wash-
ington Coal : ellars Empty

Washington. Jan. ls.--An the
Northeastern section of the country
faces critical ten-day shortage OF
coal. worse than any experienced th!s
winter.
Reports received tonight by the d.
rector general of railroads state that
all freight movements has been aban-
doned east from Pittsburg and Buff
falo, Coal cars are piled up by the
thousands at various switching CEN
tsrs. Switching has been paralyzed.
No freight is moving out of Pitts
burg or Buffalo TO Chicago. Passeu-
ger service has been abandoned on ali
through service east of Chicago. only
few locals are running. No passen-
ger trains are in operation tonight
east of Buffalo and Pittsburg.
Conditions are worse than the rail-
road administration anticipated last
night Blizzard weather. with the
temperature from 10 to 25 degrees
below aero, prevails west OF Buffalo
and Pittsburs 10 Chicago, and fur
rher west and south to tho Ohio river
everything is at "a staudstill.
Little hope for relief Is expected
from the freeze-up within the next
forty-eight hours. Such trains as can
be moved out Will be unable To meet
A period OF ten days extreme short
age Ii anticipated by the railroad ad-
imtnistration ofsictais
Freight moving week begins tomor-
row with the government facing It's
worst situation since 1t took control
OF the roads. The administration
Issued an appeal tonight TO all ship
psrs and receivers to cooperate to
their fullest ability 10 clear the freight
danger o. short AZ possible.
Cities in the East are suffering for
coal, Philadelphia Baltimore. Cam
den, Newark. New York and the New
England munitions centers say they
are nearing the end OF their supply
Washington is al the bottom of It's
coal pile.
A slight movement Of coal into New
England and some sections OF the Al
tsntic coast was effected today.
Showing officially the critical con-
disions. a. II. Smith. president of the
New York Central and In charge OF
transportation In the northeastern
section OF the country. telegra Pied TO
Director General McAdoo tonight az
follows:
Snow and high winds with tenn
psrafures ranging from 10 to % de-
grses below zero. extending west OF
ptttsburg and Buffalo to Chscs go. ami
south to Ohio. have paralyyed rasi
road operation
"Ail passenger trains were aban-
doned.
practically all switching was
stopped and all freight nlovem ent
cast of Buffalo and P1ttsburg. The
temperature la six below to ten above.
The wires are all down and are I'M
able TO com pile figures as TO cars on
hand above normal
The storm is so extensive that il
will cause a material setback in our
efforts At noon today it had mod
Grated slightly although the cold
weather In expected to continue un-
I'll tomorrow az least everywhere
Wherever anything can be accom-
pfished in the way OF clearing for
movement. the effort is being made.
Along the Atlantic coast Il Is clear
and cold. We are doing a fair days
work and getting fair movement
into New England Labor shortage
continues"
Or. Fl. A. Garfield, the fuel admin
strator. II was learned tonight. 10
oonsid ering the adyisabiIity OF issuing
4 4ra.stic order that VIII curtaii the
use OF coal in all industries. II the
Aiiyxard conditions continue the order
may be put out on Wednesday. II
will look to providing coal-fryt. to
the householSers; second, to the pub
lie utilities, and third. to the munition
plants.
Admitting that the raiirnads are at
a standstill and that the situation was
critical throughout the country Di-
rector General McAdoo tonight sent
the following telegram OF appeal to
1fr. Smith in New York. and to r. III.
xsuhtous praSfdpnL of the Chira go
Northwestern railroad:
IT am very much distressed at the
inconvenience and suffering the bliS-
aard has brought TO the people In the
West and Central West. The PARALYSIS
of the railroad service is inevitable but
] should like you to use every posi-
ble means to overcome the situation
anirestore railrocd service at the ear
Hest possible moment"