Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-18
EARLY FEARS FOR
INDUSTRIAL CRISIS !.
PROVE UNFOUNDED
Nation Begins Adjusting Az
fairs to Comply With Edict
sing Manufacturing
Plants for 5 Days
By RALPH SMITH

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE storms
of protest provoked by the fuel admins
istration's worthless day order all
ready has begun to subside. There ara
multiplying evidences that commerca
and industry east of the Mississippi
will Join whole heartedly in co-opora-
ton with the government in the ems
forcement of DR.. Garield's order.
There is every reason to believe, from
the character of kilograms deluging the
fuel administration, today, that the
bulk of protests and criticism proceeds
from a misconception of the order aud
lack OF appreciation of the exigencies OF
the situation. Sober second thought
on which President Wilson relies 50
strongly for support. is expected to re,
move much of the misunderstanding.
The realization by the people that
imperative necessity, and Imperative
necessity, alone, was responsible for
the order, is counted to silence much OF
the criticism" The people have not to
this day realized the fuel situation east
of the Mississippi, nor have they real
lied the paralysis of the transportation
facilities in this great territory. Each
community has regarded the fuel prob
lem as a local question, and each has
against in the distribution of coal
The fact of the matter is no one ser
ton has suffered more nor less thany
another. AS has been pointed out in
these dispatches, Jacksonville has. shiv.
| cred with New York, Atlanta has suf-
fered with Chicago, The city of Wash
| ington, regarded properly as the counl
try's chief war shop, is now in the
! throes of a fuel famine. The local fuel
a ir1fc frnf
pended, on his own account, the use of
coal by the few Industrial plants in
| the city not engaged in war work
The situation throughout the terri
| tory east of the Mississippi has become
I so grave that ordinary remedial effortsf
failed to meet the exigencies, WHEREFORE
DIR. Garfield's worthless day" order was
adopted as the only eficacious means
of meeting the crisis.
Officials of the fuel administration
do not seriously question the stunning
effect of the order on the country but 1
they argue that there was no aIterua.
tive. The unprecedented cold weather.
with accompanying snoWstorms, brought
the crisis. The course was decided upon
only after the fullest investigation.
Trusted agents of the fuel ADMINISTERS
ton canvaSsed the fuel situation in all
sections of the territory included In
the order, and their reports Convinced
DR.. Garfield both as to the necessity.
and wisdom of the action.
Approved by President
In these circumstances, it is believed
there is small likelihood of any imports
ant modification in the order, though
it's actual operation with respect to in
dustries, instead of becoming effective
tomorrow. may be deferred for a few
days.
President Wilson himself and Directors
General McAdOo of railroads were fully
conversant with the contemplated course
of DR.. Garfield, and his order is UNDER
stood to meet with their approval. The
statement given out by DIR. Garfield.
apparently is involved and ambiguous.
but a thoughtful study of tbs provisions
is calculated to clarity misconception,
and carry its own interpretations.
The first section Of the order provids
ing for five voorhees, days, beginning
January IS and extending through jan
uary %, applies wholly to Industrial
plants, and does not affect commercial
houses, as some perosns eroneously be-
lieve. 1t is important and significant
especially to Atlanta, that many of the
local industries are operated by cleo
tricity furnished by the Georgia Rail-
way and Power company, which gener-
ates it's current from water power ana
not coal. This means therefore that
none of these establishments viii be
affected by the order, except in so far
as they rely upon the use of coal for
heating purposes.
Atlanta Little Affected
Their motive power will not be de-
MED them by the order, but none win
be permitted to burn coal to generate
heat for the comfort of their employees
OH the days indicated.
Many Of the smaller Industrial plants,
offices and stores in Atlanta are sup
piled with heat by the power company,
and it appears from the order that none
of them will be denied heat either on
the five worthless days or subsequent
voorhees, Mondays. Since public utili-
ties are among the industries given pref
erence in the order. Indeed, public utii-
tiles appear as the third exception to
the general order relating to voorhees,
days only the railroads. domestic con.
sumers. charitable institutions. army
and navy cantonments are placed ahead
Of public utilities. Although the fuel
administration today was not prepared
to give a ruling as to fuelless Mondays
with especial reference TO the office
buildings in Atlanta, that accommodate
banks, physicians and dentists in adj
dition to scores of commercial offices, it
seems probable that none of the big
buildings in Atlanta will be seriously In
terfered with. Obviously. il will require
practically as much coal to fire the fur
naces in the big office structures that
house banks, whether or not the heat
is supplied only to the banks or to all
the tenants OF the buildings.
Banking houses and the Offices OF ply
slclans and dentists are among those ex-
cepted in fUelless Mondays. Practically
CONTINUED on Page g, Col. 3D.
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