Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-22
ORDER CLOSES LOCAL STURfS
 70 SAVE FUEL
CNGse Doors at 4 P. M. by Order of Administrator
 Several Exceptions.
] FUEL SITUATION
 IS MORE SERIOUS
Barber Shops. Restaurants. Hotels and Drug Stores Exempted From order-Many of City'> Poor
 Suffering From Cold.

Suffering From Colo. l Due to the most serious fuel situ- ation this city has ever experienced i coupled with weather of the worst variety County Fuel Administrator Harry l. Holderncss yesterday issued orders for the closing ot all stores l and office buildings promptly at 4 o'clock each afternoon. and ordered all pool halls, clubs and lodges to discontinue operations entirely until further notified.
 The issuance of Nlr. Holderness' or ders occurred after conference yes terdaN morning with Mayor Simon Bloom, NJ. D. Randolph, local man ager nf the Natural Gas company, and Secretary k. B. Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Mir. Holderness stated last night that the fuel situation in this city is now very serious, and thanked the public for patriotic manner in which the business men had responded to his order.
 As a result of the order there will be no schools at any of the public institutions until the present crisis is over, and all stores, with the eXcep- tion of drug stores, theaters, barber shops an& restaurants, will close promptly at 4'p. m. The hotels will be allowed to operate as usual.
 The order issued by Mr. Holderness calls attention to the fact that the fuel situation in this city is very serious, and asks for full cooperation from the local business men, stating that if the order did not go into eff feet it is very probable that it would be very short time before the con- sumers would be deprived of all kinds of fuel and much suffering would re- suit Pool halls, club and lodges are ordered to discontinue until further orders. Picture shows are allowed to operate on account of the fact that two of them are under contract for vaudeville performances, and in order that strangers and citizens may take advantage of warm public place. Barber shops are allOwe dto remain open on account of the fact that some of them are located in hotels and the remaining shops do not use more gas than private homes.
 Council Meeting Postponed.
 On account of the extremely bad weather and in an effort to conserve as much fuel as possible, the city all dermen decided to postpone the reg ular meeting of the council last night, and as result several important measures will so over until the next meeting.
 City's Poor Suffer.
 County Fuel Administrator Holder ness stated last night that many ap- peals had been made to his office for fuel, and that there are many families in this city who are suffering greatly from the cold weather. He said that every effort is being made to get in as much fuel as possible, but ill re- gard to the outcome of the situation he could give no encouragement.
 Order Will Re Enforced.
 The order issued yesterday morning will be strictly enforced. and all vio laters of this mandate will be severely dealt with. While there were num- Der of violations of this order yes terday, those ill error had not been informed of Mir. Holderness' order and no action against them will be taken, but the county fuel administra- tor stated last night that from now on the order will be strictly enforced.
 Meat Shops Not Excepted.
 It was first stated yesterday that all local meat shops would be ex- empted from the provisions of this order, but MT. Holderness stated last night that there will be no exception in the cases of these business houses and they will be put in the same class as grocer stores and must close their doors at 4 o'clock each afternoon.
 Fuel Supply Limited.
 The fuel supply in this city is limited and efforts are being made bv a large number of citizens to se- cure wood and coal in order that they can do away with the use of gas. It is very probable that large num- Der of lahorers will be cutting wood from the lands of several patriotic citizens this morning in an effort to relieve the situation. A number of local landowners have offered wood from their lands if the people will cut and haul this fuel.