The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-06
BITTER GOLD IN
EASTERN STATES
Heavy Shows and Below Zero
Winds Are Sweeping East
and Holding up
Railroads.
NATIONAL LINE CRISIS
New England Coal Supply is Short
While Other Sections
Suffer the Same
Conditions.
NATIONAL LINE CRISIS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The ma
ttonal railroad faces Its greatest crisis
OF the winter In the east today. Re-
newed heavy SHOWS and bitter cold
sweeping through districts already
staggering under coal and food lack.
have paralyzed the great transporta-
ton system to the danger point.
These conditions resulted in contin-
uing the workless Monday order,
which it had been hoped could be re-
voked this week. 1t has opened up the
possibility Of further shut down"
holidays, with Feb. 9-12 and Feb 22-25,
the four-day periods for closing, under
consideration.
verely. Reports Of no coal on hand and
received from different points today.
Many industries are actually closing
for lack Of fuel. The rail tie-up in
some parts Is threatening the food as
well as the coal supply.
Temperatures from 20 to 10 below
In northern New York state drove
trainmen to seek shelter from the icy
blasts leaving food, fuel and other
necessities waiting on the tracks.
Some New England sections are run
ming on twenty-four hours reserve
coal supply.
TRAINS are being delayed in all i'm
portant terminals, waiting engines
from round houses due to inability to
get men to work." Regional Director
Smith wired General Director McAdoo
yesterday. Regular tonnage was 20
to 30 throughou the region today. Ice
clogged switch derailments. and froz-
On brakes were minor troubles added
to the demoralized condition. Bunker
ing Of ships was hampered by labor
shortage due to cold. Coal barges are
caught in the New York harbor ice.
Total freight movement into New
England dropped to 1899 cars, half Of
this perishables.
New Hampshire reported only
three day coal supply on hand, the
most favorable report from any OF the
state fuel administrators. The Penn
sylvania administrator declared only
one days supply was on hand. Con-
ditions in Ohio and other states arc
exceedingly grave.
Traffic Committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. GA traffic
investigation committee to divert
freight from congested gateways to
less congested points today was ap-
pointed by Director General McAdoo.
It includes:
B. L. Winchel1, Chicago; ]. F. Ran
dolph, New York and T. C. Powell,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
McAdoo's action will result in the
immediate diversion of great amounts
of freight to southern ports, that the
jam at New York, Newport News and
other eastern water terminals may be
relieved.
Factors in Coal Shortage.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Faulty dis
tr1bution and fuel administration
blunders added to the transportation
congestion are leading factors in the
coal shortage. according to an infor-
NAL preliminary report now before
the senate probing committee headed
by Senator Reed.
The measure Of responsibility for
fuelless conditions to be laid at the
door Of Dr.. Garfield, fuel admins
traitor and his associates has not been
settled by the committee.
The beneficial or disastrous effect
Of industries closing order; the re-
newed activity of the railways from
their benumbed condition: the satis-
faction of the country with the fuel
and railroad management; VIII have
their effect on the senate committee
members and twist the committee YER
dict along popular lines.
The criticism at this time is that
the 'iIl-considered and unwfse orders"
of the fuel administration have added
In some instances to congestion and
<,np ftIs inn In distribution