Evening star., 1918-01-19
NATION RESPONDS
! MORE CHEERFULLY
TOFUEL DEMANDS
kilograms PIedging Co-0pera-
ton Received Following
Firm Stand of President.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT
IN FREIGHT SITUATION
Coal Already Made Available for
Bunkering Ships Awaiting
Enough to Sail.


A food Of kilograms continued today
to pour in upon DR.. Harry A. Garfield,
United States fuel administrator. But
their tenor differed from that of yes
terday and the day before. .,-...,-,...--.s-
Indignant protests and doleful pre-
dictions of disaster have given way to
congratulation and pledges of co-opera-
ton. The country has accepted the
edict, and is making the best of it.
President Wilson's unqualified support
of his fuel administrator has silenced
the objectors. They may not like the
order any better than they did when it
was announced but they are less
vociferous Chambers of commerce and
other trade bodies, state officials, rail-
road executives and a host of indivi-
duals who are willing to do whatever
it is necessary shall be done now are
being heard. They have accepted the
word of President Wilson and DR.. Gar
field that the fuel order was necessary,
and they promise loyal support in max
ing it effective.
The order already is beginning to
justify itself. according to officials of
the fuel administration. A general i'm
provement is apparent today, they say,
in the eastern freight situation. At the
end Of two or three more days they be-
lieve this improvement will be so
marked that even the prophets of dis
aster will have to acknowledge it
Expect Return Of Cars.
At DR.. Garhelds office 1t was ad-
mitted today that as yet there has been
no appreciable increase in the return
of cars to the mines, but belief was
expressed that by Monday this return
movement of cars will be SO well under
way that all the collieries can be kept
in full operation.
The biggest achievement claimed for
the order after one days operation is
that coal is being made available Tor
bunkering ships now held In Atlantic
ports through lack Of fuel. By Mon
day night, it was asserted, there will
be enough coal at these ports to bunker
all ships now waiting. All ships prob
ably will not be bunkered by that time
but the coal will be there, and they
will get the fuel necessary for sailing
bunkering facilities can handle it.
With the sailing of these ships, it is
contended. the freight congestion crisis
at eastern terminals will be on the
way 10 Tdplu SOluSAoli. 1iC oOShS " la
be relieved of the great accumulation
of munitions and foodstuffs destined
for the American forces and the allies
in Europe, and it will be possible tc
unload other cars and start them or
their return journeys.
Solve Collateral Problems.
AS the breaking up of this congestion
of goods bound overseas was. in the
final analysis. the chief thing which
brought about the drastic conservation
program. it's accomplishment, fuel ad-
ministration officials claim, will auto
maticalIy solve all the collateral prob
lens.
In the meantime, due to the suspen
sion of industry, such stocks of Goa
for domestic uses are expected to bt
accumulated as to assure that the pres
ent winter will see no further genera
suffering through lack of fuel.
1t was made clear today that in.
dustries producing materials on which
munitions plants are dependent are ex.
cepted from provisions of the closing
order. This application will permit
the operation of virtually all mine.
producing metals and ore.
The fuel administration today ruled
that lumber-producing concerns work.
ing on orders for the Emergency Flee
Corporation and for the aircraft pro.
duction board are exempt.
'