Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-19
CREST Of FAMINE
NOT YET PASSED.:
LITTLE COAL NOW
Only 600 Tons Arrive mt Noon for Tri-
Cities, Causing a Setback for
Rock Island.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK IS REVERSED
Although Situation Seemed TO Be
Clearing Yesterday. Today 1t
Appears More Grave.

Although thought to be back on the
road to a normal coal supply yester-
day, Rock Island today received a
setback in fits fuel supply through the
failure to receive even a moderate
amount.
A large supply Of coal was received
yesterday and it was thought for a
time that the situation was clearing
itself At noon today but IL carloads
of coal were received for the tri-cities.
This is but 600 tons. In Moline the
situation Is even more grave than
here, there being not enough coal on
hand to supply even the emergency
orders. AS a result Of this, a large
part of the 600 tons received had to
be consigned to Moline.
H. A. Clevenstine announced today
that it is probable relief will come
from the mines at Matherville. The
coal will be brought over the Rock
Island Southern. The mines at Math-
erville were not in operation today
because of the inability of the inter-
urban line to move the cars yester-
day. 1t was expected that some coal
would arrive late today from Mather-
vile.
The emergency fuel board will
maintain its Office at the Rock Island
club tomorrow and Monday. The tele-
phone number is Rock Island 1855.
Under orders Of the Rock Island
county fuel administration four plants
closed on Friday in compliance with
the orders of Administrator Garfield
II. ave been exempted and will open for
wo.~k Monday morning.
tn ey are: a.
Root & VanDervoort Engineering
COMPANY, ordnance plant and shell
shops. E.la. Moline.
Velie Car riage company, Moline. de-
partment manufacturing ordnance
material.
Moline Eo rging and Manufacturing
company, Moline, making war sup
,lies.
Tri-City Blue Print company, Mo
line. making blue prints for concerns
turning out wa" material.
Other plants which have not been
closed and will continue to run be-
cause of their Importance to the gov
eminent or because wood shavings
and not coal is used to generate pow
er are.
Rock Island arsenal shops.
Silvis shops of the Rock Island
road.
Rock Island Sash G. Door works,
Rock Island.
Mutual Wheel company, Moline
Wright Carriage Body company,
Moline.
The latter concerns employ 100 men.
1t is figured that 10000 workers re-
main idle.
Wires between the twin cities and
Washington were busy all yesterday
and today carrying messages from To-
cal manufacturers engaged in produc-
ton of war material who sought ex-
emption from the fuel administration s
orders. These manufacturers had
read Of the modification in the orders
in respect to concerns engaged on
government work.
B. ]. Denman, president of the Tri-
CITY Railway company, stated this
morning that John G. Huntoon, gen.
eral manager of the company, had al
ready assured Colonel Burr that his
demand would be satisfactorily car
ried out. The arsenal commandant
has been asked for conference with
Messrs. Denman and Huntoon Monday
morning and at that time two solu-
tons will be submitted by the street
car men. One is to have the Rock
Island road take care of some of the
business. The Tri-City Railway com
oany has 20 cars on the way, but Mr.
Denman was not in position to say
just when they will reach here. When
they arrive the situation can be easily
cleared up, he said. The company is
now supplying 67 extra cars each
evening for the arsenal employees, Is
at 4:30 p. m. and AZ at $50.
Orders have been received from
Washington by the Moline Pillow COM
pany that the Universal tractor plant
and the pillow factories may begin op-
- erations Monday and work continu-
ously thereafter. The plants were
closed upon the beginning of the five
day period in which industries were
ordered closed. The ruling applies to
all manufacturing concerns making
supplies for spring delivery.