New-York tribune., 1918-06-12
U.S.Cuts War
Work i'm East
In Fuel Crisis
Coal Shortage and Over
taxed Transportation
Cause Action

WASHINGTON, June Ito check
further industrial congestion in the al
ready overburdened East, the govern
ment has prescribed a district in which
it will permit no increase in the volume
of war orders or in the number of
plants handling them. This district in
cludes New England, Eastern and
Southern New York, Eastern Pennsyl-
vania to Williamsport and Altoona, New
Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Mary
land, excluding Baltimore.
The new policy, announced tonight
by the War Industries Board and fuel
and railroad administrations, will tend
to create expansion Of industries in the
Middle West and South, although the
process is expected to be so gradual as
not to work hardship on the Eastern
manufacturing area or cause unusual
industrial booms elsewhere.
The reason for the action, which al.
ready has been put into effect to some
degree, is primarily the inability of the
railroads to supply sufficient coal or to
haul promptly all the manufactured
products turned out by constantly
growing industries. The shortage OF
labor in the East and the congested
terminals of Atlantic ports were con.
tributory.
Prevents Increased Orders
The announcement of the policy
wn;ch has been under consideration
since the serious freight traffic tie-ur
and coal shortage last winter, follows
"A policy has been adopted and made
effective for preventing further in.
crease in the volume of war orders and
the number of establishments handling
them in the area known as the con-
eesecd manufacturing and transporta.
tion district.
This district comprises the New
Ingsand States, Eastern and Southern
New York, Pennsylvania AS far west
as Williamsport and Altoona, all OF
Now Jersey and Delaware and Eastern
Maryland, not including Baltimore
cnly if unavoidable through inabilit,
otherwise to provide for war needs.
Coal Supply Limited
"The amount of coal, therefore, (which
can be transported into this congested
area during any one season is limited
1t is an entirely separate problem from
the production of coal. However much
coal is mined in Western Pennsylvania
West Virginia and Ohio. only so much
is available for this congested district
as the railroads and ships can transport
into it.
Careful analysis of the possible Goa
movement shows the increased indus
trial activity in the Eastern states has
| created requirement for coal which
| exceeds the limit of possible transporta
tion of coal, plus necessary material:
! for manufacture. A map of the con
gested and restricted districts has beer
| issued to al! government departments.
Execution of the new policy will bt
largely in the hands of the War In
most war contracts of the War anc
Navy departments and Shipping Board
1t will be made effective by the allocat
ing Of new contracts whenever possible
in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
Illinois, Mississippi Valley regions and
! the South. This does not mean tha,
any idleness of manufacturing plants ir
the restricted district is to be per
mitted.
/ officials in charge of quantity pro.
/! duction for the government point out
| that the demand tor war materials il
| actually greater at present than ths
capacity of manufacturing plants, ane
that consequently continual expan
sion is in progress. 1t is this expansion
| which the government hopes to promot,
in the less congested Middle West ant
| South, and to prevent in the East. TX
| some extent the policy will affect fac
! tories throughout the country.
/ -O---
voryu Vvuwury unN.,