New Britain herald., 1918-01-12
GIVES A WARNING
 ID NEW YORkERS
Garfield Cautions Against Using
 Too Much Goal

Washington, Jan- lZ-7Sufhclent 1 coal will be provided for New York 1 to prevent suffering, and as far as 1 possible all industries will be sup | piled. On the other hand, it will be l impossible during the next sixty deys to give any section of the country it's 1 normal supply, in face of shortage l of 3S,000,000 tons, and the strictest l economy with the curtailment Of cer- 1 tain industries not entirely essential to ] the conduct of the war will have to be practiced.
 That, in a few words, was the frank statement made by Dr. H. A. Garfield. the United States fuel administrator. He added that there was no cause for alarm and that actual famine con- ditions would be averted through the cooperation of the directors general of railroads, the shipping board, and the fuel administration. He felt, however, that the country should know the ac- tual conditions.
 The long stretch of cold weather and the congestion of transportation lines due to weather conditions and unusual war demands, pr. Garfield said, were responsible for the situa- ton now confronted. The shortage Of coal, he said, was found, despite the fact that the production of coal was millions Of tons in excess of the total output in 1916.
 It was even possible, Dr. Garfield said, that some of the intuition fac tories might be unable to obtain SUD- plies on a. 100 per cent. basis during the next sixty days, if weather con- ditions were unfavorable to a rapid solution of transportation problems. After that period, he felt, there would h. being put into effect which would avert a shortage in the future. No further priority orders are con- | tenpIated, and pr. Garfield assured 1 the country that the whole problem | would be handled without partiality l for any district, and in the interests 1 of the nation as a whole.
 1 "I think,' he said 'that when the | American people understand the prob | 1ens involved they will be satisfied with what is being accomplished. I 1 do not believe that they will have 1 much sympathy for division of trou- | bles'
 Dr. Garfield said that it was dis l tressing to him to hear of reports of 1 suffering and shortage at intuition 1 plants and other industries which 1 came from many states and cities the moment the pinch was felt. He would l endeavor, he said, to treat all sections with justice and impartiality, and he 1 felt assured that there would be no | wholesale retardation Of wartime activities or suffering among the l people.
 Dr. Garfield sent P. B. Moves, head 1 of the conservation division of the fuel ] administration, to New York City last l night to discuss necessary curtailment 1 of coal by industries, theaters and other places of amusement. Non-es- sentials, he said would not be kept on the same footing as the munition fac 1 tories and other war industries, and a general curtailment would be eff | fected as rapidly as possible.
 There has been no definite policy 1 concerning the theaters so far as the | federal fuel administration is con- | cerned and power has been delegated ] to MT. Moves to handle that situ- l ation. The decision will be reached after it is determined how much coal would be saved and whether the sav- ing and the conditions in other direc- tions justified the inconvenience to the public.
 Another important matter which | ME. Moves will take up Is the seizure of coal, above the immediate re- quirements which has been stored by some industries and households in | New York. Dr. Garfield said today that he believed there were many
 such cases, and that a considerable l relief could be given by taking over
 this coal in the name of the govern ment and distributing it. MT. Moves
 will confer with Mayor Hylan, A. H.
 Wiggin, federal fuel administrator for
 New York state, m embers of the pub-
 lie service commission, and other off,
 cials. It is understood that a survey
 of the coal storing situation in the
 New York district has been made by
 MT Wiggin and his agents, and that
 action will be taken without delay.
 None of the officials here would es-
 innate the tons which might be ob-
 tained for emergency distribution by
 this step.
 The response on the part of the
 non-essentia1 industries was said to-
 day to be a quick one, and nine indus
 tries in addition to the boxboard manufacturers have offered a volun.
 tary plan for coal conservation. Many other interests will confer with the fuel administration on the matter next week.