The Sentinel=record., 1918-01-20
MIDDLE WEST STORM
 STOPPED THE PROGRESS
Fuel Administrator Garfield is Deter mined to Supply the Ships and the Necessities and Reports Co., oper- ation From All Sources With Fewer Requests For Exemption.


Washington, Jan. f9--A marked i'm proyement jn the coal famine condi- tions was reported by the fuel admin stration tonight as a result of the sec ond days operation of the govern ment's fuel restriction order.
 Houses were warmed, ships were bunkered, and in the extreme east railway congestion was cleared to some extent, fuel administration off cials said after going through tele- graphic reports from twenty-eignt state fuel administrators. In the middlewest a heavy snowstorm and zero temperatures, however, reduced rail movement sharply.
 The only important change in the closing order made today was a rul- ing permitting all places of amuse- ment to remain open on the Monday holidays and close on Tuesdays in stead. A large number of industrial plants were added to tho war and navy departments exemption list, but the names of none were made public.
 A special effort was made today tc provide ships with bunker coal and with Chairman Hurley ol the board to pool tugs and barges in each Atlantic port where vessels are held to expe- dite the work.
 Pooling was suggested to the fuel administration by A. II. Smith, assist ant director general of railroads. wno declared that some piers supplied with coal had no harges to transport it and that others with no coal on hand were well supplied with barges. Chairman Hurley tonight started special rep resentative to New York to assist MT. Smith and J. w. Searles, representa- tive of the fuel administration, in put ting through the pooling arrangement.
 Reports from New York said that thirteen ships were bunkered there today despite heavy ice that inter ferred with barge movements. Rail- road officials reported that coal was moving much more freely to the piers and that 1t now was question only of getting it aboard ships. Men will be kept hard at work all day tomorrow in the principal Atlantic ports keep ing the coal moving.
 q am determined to any steps" said Fuel Administrator Garfield tonight, which may be necessary within my authority to facilitate the supplying of ships with the fuel"
 A new danger threatened the coal output today. Empty cars began to reach the chief bituminous mining re- gions in diminishing numbers. This was due, it was said. i'll part to delay attending the diversion of coal from industry closed down to those permit ted to run In most of the big indus trial centers switching work was all most doubled and consequently there was considerable confusion in distri- outing the coal that arrived.
 Fuel Administrator Garfield tonight issued a statement on the general sit uation in which he said
 "The general compliance and almost complete cooperation in the enforce meut Of the fuel administration regu- lation curtailing industrial use of fuel were reported 10 the United States fuel administration today. Local off cials of the fuel administration and report improved transportation conditions in the east Reports in- dicated that the way was rapidly be- ing cleared for the movement of coal for the bunkering of ships now held up at Atlantic ports and for keep ing the country warm. Improvement was also noted in the central west, despite the canutinued zero weather which has been impeding railroad operations.
 Reports from the Baltimore X Ohio showed car spruus of ,S05 cars available for coal mines i'll West Vir- einia. This was an increase of four hundred over the number available the day before. On the first day the restrictive regulation was effective the Baltimore .G Ohio moved l,100