New-York tribune., 1918-01-16
Every Effort Made to Keep
the Food and Fuel
Routes Open
New Snowfall Chokes
Yards and Terminals
Coal Trains Kept Moving
Slowly by Aid of Three
and Four Engines

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Against the
worst general snow and ice storm Of
generation the government railroad
administration to-day struggled in an
effort to open main travel routes and
keep coal and food shipments moving
ever the lines best able TO handle them.
The situation tonight was regarded
As worse than at any time within the
last week OF tratfIc-p -paralyzing weather.
On top of an accumulation Of snow in
the Middle West, from billiards. of sew
oral days ago, came fresh snowfall to-
day. Snow plows went to work on the
new drifts, while gangs of laborcrs,
drawn from every occupation from
which they could be spared, tackled
Yards and terminals already cleared
cnce of snow within the week.
Only coal and food were kept NOV
ing, and these went slowly. The rail.
roads supply of locomotives, depicted
by the hundreds i'll shops, were used
largely for these shipments. Two.
three or four engines tugged at a train
Of coal in many instances.
Industries Face Closing
oiHclais tonight believed it only a
matter of days before some industries
would be forced to close by inability
10 get fuel. The snow cannot melt
and the weather moderate fast enough.
10
ment of coal to meet the extraordinary
war demands. Measures arc being
planned to safeguard domestic and
public utilities needs, and to distribute
the remainder to the most essential
industries.
After Governor Cornwcll, of West
Virginia, and delegation cf coal oper-
ators had complained to Mr. McAdoo
that only one-third of the normal sup
ply OF cars was available at West yir
Sinia mines, additional empty cars were
ordered there.
The anthracite mines of PENNSYLVANIA
got their full supply of cars. about
$500 being loaded during the day. and
coal went to New England by all the
rail gateways and by water from Hamp-
ton Roads
Coal Cars on Sidings
Investigations by the Interstate Com
nerce CommissIon's inspectors, work
ing under direction of Commissioner
McChord, disclosed hundreds Of coal
cars on sidings in the East. blocked
behind lines of almost immovablc
freight cars. destined for points all
ready suffering from fuel shortage.
Freight Moving Week, although rec.
ognlzed in kilograms from a number
OF commercial organizations to-day,
seemed almost showed under
1t is reported that r. II. Ashton,
president of the Chicago & Northwest
crn Railway, will be named as Mir Nc
Adoo's representative about Chicago to
supervise trans sportation as A. II. Smith
il doing in the East.
nection with his own road, it was ex-
planned, prevented him from devoting
all his time to the Washington situa-
ton.
Tomorrow Mr.. McAdoo will confer
with several railroad commissioners
lie viii also meet delegation from the
National Industrial Traffic League, an
organization of shippers, who are pre-
' pared to assist clearing up the prevail
ing congestion.
Wants to Take Up Labor Questions
Mr.. McAdoo expects TO announce to-
morrow or Thursday the personnel OF
the board of four to Investigate the
brotherhoods' wage demands, and as
soon as possible wants to take up other
pending labor questions.
While the railloa administration
was at work on transportation problems
today the House Interstate Commerce
Committee, at hearing on the railroad
pill, drew from John Barton Payne
counsel for Director General McAdoo
testimony to the effect that it appears
doubtful whether scores of short roads
operating within states are subject. to
government control