Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-29
WORST TRAFFIC T|E-UP
OF WINTER IN PROSPECT
Officials OF Fuel and Railroad Nd
ministrations Frankly Worried
When Deliveries Stop.
FLOODS ARE NOW FE,iR RED
Melting Of Snow and Ice Will Pro-
tiucc Swollen Streams to Threat
en- Transportation - HituminouS
Coal Production Reduced.

iRr A..nria,,h rrnss

WASHINC;ToN, January .s.-in tho
face 81 blizzards. which completely
stopped traffic on many Eastern rail
roads to-day. tho hauling cf sufficient
coal fur homes and important war in
dustries in ih- Eastern half of the
country became a moro serious prob
lcm than al amy time this winter.
Officials Of the fuel and railroad
administrations were frankly worried.
but explained that they did not be-
licNc il necessary 10 declare another
Gvc-dsy industrial shut down in view
OF the general observance OF to-day
as the second "hcatlcss Monday" No
extension Of tho Official Eastern freight
embargo is necessary. railroad admin
istration officials said, because rail
roads now arc accepting practically
no shipments except OF fuel and food.
There was 4 general heavy fan Of
snow to-day from tho Middle West
10 Kew York and il extended tonight
into New England. In tho Middle
West slcct 2tormS intcrfcrcd with
traffic. while in some sections rain
fell. tddcd to tho concern of rail
road administration officials over tho
continuance ot cold weather ana snow
was tho fear OF floods which would
follow the sudden thaw. In parts
OF West Virginia to-day railroad att
thoriiics reported streams swollen
with melting snow were threatening
interruption Of coal transportation.
DITUMINoIs COAT PRODUCTION
10 rER GENT BELOW NORMAL.
Unofficial reports .cccivcd to-day
indicated that the production Of btu
minous coal last week Was more than
10 per cent btlow normal largely
because Of the car shortage. Tho
stoppagc of traffic b. to-day's storms
will result in decreased supply Of
ompties going back to the mines. and
tho effects Of This curtailcd production
viii hc felt in four or five days. OIL
Gals explained. even with the re
sumption OF normal traffic.
While tho snow was expected to pass
tomorrow continued cold weather was
forecast by tho Weather Bureau.
Reports received to-niSh; by tho
fuel administration iud!catcd that tho
interpretations OF tho industrial clos
ing order sent out saturday nigh; &c
suited to-day i'll more uniform conf
Dliancc than was reported for last
Monday. Fuel Administrator Garfield
put an end to reports that to-day was
the las, OF the Monday Industrial holi-
ddSS "! hcHttrlNg mat the orig ma!
program OF ten weeks would he ear
ricd ont.
Director -C;cneral McAdoo to-day is
sued a general order permitting whole
trains uf toodstums for export 10 Great
Britain. France OF Italy 10 he rushed
through from -. Louis. Chicago or
other points To North Atlantic ports AS
was requested Saturday by allied rep
rescn;ativcS. The order also exempted
from the Eastern embargo feed for
animals and material used IN the on.
Grafton .: upkccp of coal mines
M,tH COLDER WEATHER
PREDICTED FOR SOUTHEAST
Much colder weather throughout the
southeast as Tar down rs Northern
FLORIDA was FORECAST Tonight by the
weather bureau. The love-. tcnpera-
lures VII! extend into the Florida re-
hihSni'. By Wednesday, while by that
time 1t Will be somewhat warmer in
the lower Mississippi and lower Ohio
Valleys. Rains in the South Atlantic
States Tuesday will be followed BY
generally fair weather
The southwest disturbance OF sun
day might now extends in "a thin trough
Continued on Second Pagc)