Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-17
To Save Nation Coal Pile.


women employed in Illinois manu-
featuring plants will be idle for five
days beginning tomorrow in fulfill
ment Of an unprecedented order is
sued by Coal Administrator Garfield
to conserve the fuel supply and to
avert the panic that was certain to
ensue unless some such remedy were
applied. Strictly Interpreted, the
command is taken to mean that every
manufacturing plant where coal is
employed in the generation of power
or heat must suspend operations for
the period indicated The zone af-
fected is all territory east Of the Miss
issippi river and including Minnesota
at the north and Louisiana at the
south. 1t is to be noted by the geo.
graphical outlines that while Rock
Island, Moline and East Moline are in
Guided Davenport is exempt, mas
side Of the river. Every factory and
workshop, from the gigantic steel
plants to the crossroads blacksmith,
will be required to close down for the
five days. The only exception
that may permit the great packing
plants of Chicago to run part time to
provide food for immediate consump-
ton. In addition to the five days
there will be a one-day holiday every
Monday from Jan. y to March 20.
This is to cover every line Of business
that possibly can be spared. Concerns
selling food will be permitted to re-
main open till noon, while stores dis
pensing drugs will continue on their
usual schedules in order to provide
relief for the sick and suffering. The
newspapers will be limited to one edi-
ton.
1t IL estimated that 100000 tons
of coal will be saved by the proposed
program. The nation has since last
fall been minus more than fifty mil
lion tons Of coal, due to idleness of
miners while they were contending
with the operators over wage agree
ments. Through application Of
various conservation measures,
such as lightless nights and ap-
peals to ordinary users to save
through closing off certain rooms of
their homes 1t was hoped that the
nation might pull through without re-
sorting to the unheard Of measures
that finally have been made impera-
tive. The cold spell Of the past weeks
forced the government to the extremes
which 1t has just adopted. 1t had no
alternative if suffering among the
people was to be averted. There are
Various details bearing on the new Or
ders that are not printed here, but
they will be found in the news pages
of this issue of The Argus, the Asso-
ciated Press reports simplifying the
information that appeared in the
Chicago papers.
plan was contained in a bulletin that
came to The Argus last evening f.om
the Associated Press. While the pub
lie had been prepared to make almost
any sacrifices in the interest of the
general welfare, the command to close
for five days and the Monday holiday
came with such suddenness that those
affected have not entirely recovered
their bearings, and are seeking every
conceivable source for information to
remove any doubts that they may be
entertaining as to just where they
stand. 1t is not anticipated that the
government will experience any diff
Guilty in obtaining cooperation from
the lines that are affected, inasmuch
as severe penalties are provided where
there is refusal to Join in the ar
rangement Suggestion also has been
made that concerns pay labor that will
be on vacation for the periods speci-
fed, but this Of course will be ques-
ton for adjustment between each en-
ployer and those on his payroll.