Bisbee daily review., 1918-02-06
FUEL FAMINE DECIDES THE OFFICIALS IN RIGID ORDER
Government Decides That Monday Program of Heat less Days Shall be Kept Up. Situation May Be Worse.
Rv Review Leased wire)

WASHINGTON. Feb. 5--Mlth the east facing the most acute coal snort age Of the winter and in the grip of the coldeSJ weather in a generation, the government decided today that the heatleSs Monday program cannot s-i this time be abandoned
 The conclusion to continue the clos ing was reached al a conference Le- tween Fuel Administrator Garfield and Director General McAdOO. attend ed by a dozen state fuel administrators There was no official announcement but a joint statement probably will te given out tomorrow
 There had been every indication up to last night that the Monday ho.:da ss were over. but reports brought to Washington by the state fuel admials- tratOrs that throughout most os the east there is on hand but one l3y' 's supply of coal. coupled with the wealh- CT situation were accepted as cSnTinc- ing proof that the present is ID tIme to lift the closing order Even Mr- Nc AdOO, who up 10 this time IS under stood to have opposed the closing plan was said tonight to have agreed that until the weather permits an III prove ment in railroad tTanspOrtaficn. the order should be continued in force
 Blizzard Cuts Production
 The blizzard has cut coal production and movement to such an eXtcn- that officials pointed out tonight that even had the Monday closings been aban- dOned industry would be forced to close to a considerable cxtent because of a lack of fuel supplies Reports b the fuel administration iOnighs showed that in many states plants already are closing in large numbers
 It was emphasized that the fuel ad- ministratiOn is determined that what coal is unlOaded and distributed shall go to househOlders first Statt fuel ad ministratOrs have been given almost unlimited authority to divert coal from other consumers 10 keep the people warm in their homes
 For the first time since cnal began to run short fuel administration off cials admit that the situation is alarm ing Report after report came during the day telling of cities all the way from Mississippi to the Atlantic with but few hours supply of fuel or hand and prospects poor for obtaining any thing like the quantities nseded.
 In New England transpOE5s ion was declared hopeless TraTns were cTiF- pied and an Atlantic storm had halted coal movement by wa'er. All indus tries in Indiana. it was said. were about to shut down and che situation in Ohio was so critical siovernO. Cox planned to come to Washington tO make a personal appeal for aid Q
 The railroads were declared to be in the worst shape they have been m al any time Low temperatures made that impossible in some instances for trainmen to work and general freight movement was said to be a3OUt 59 Der cent of normal
 May Get Wore
 There are some indications that if better weather does not come 10 un- prove the situation officials will take up for consideration an amendment to the closing order prescribing two fOur-day shutdOwns. one covering the period of LincOln's birthday annivsr- sary and the other WashiagfOa's bi;th- day
 Railroad administration reports o. day said freight movement had been cut in half. and passenger traffic suf- fered equally. Prospects tor material improvement in the next few days were gloomy.