The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-23
EASTERN ROADS
UNDER EMBARGO
Only Food, Fuel, War Munitions
To Be Transported Action
Recommended BY Smith.
ORDER ISSUED BY M'ADoo
Idle Factories Again in Opera
tion-Workless and Heat
less Days at End.

Washington, Jan. 23.-An embargo
on all freight, except food, fuel and
war munitions on tho Pennsylvania
limos, east Of Pittsburgh; Baltimore
4 Ohio, east Of tho Ohio river, and
the Philadelphia & Reading was su-
thorixed today by Director General
. McAdoo.
The action was taken on recon-
nnendation Of A. II. Smith, assistant
director general in charge of trans
portation In the east. No reference
was made to the Recommendation for
an embargo submitted last night BY
Fuel Administrator Garfield. The en,-
barge is temporary and is expected to
last only few days.
Purpose of Embargo.
The purpose of the embargo is to
enable those lines, which are the
heaviest bituminous coal carriers, to
continue specializing upon coal for the
double purpose of supplying the acute
conditions in New England and the
harbor of New York and elsewhere
and in the provision Of empty cars
for mines and coke ovens, said the an
nouncement Of the railroad admins
tration.
The practical effect of this order
will not greatly change conditions or
the last few days, it was stated by
railroad administration officials. since
local embargoes already have been de-
clared by many eastern railroads
These have been made on the inltia-
tive Of individual roads. In many
cases also, an embargo practically
was il, effect because severe weather
conditions prevented railroads from
supplying cars to shippers.
What fastened Action.
An embargo on everything but food,
fuel and munitions has been under
consideration for several days. Up 10
last night however, Director-Generai
McAdoo was not favorable to a gen.
Grad embargo, believing that railroads
soon would be able to move the entire
volume of accumulated freight. rms
hope was shattered last night by the
continuation Of bad weather and snow
almost everywhere east of the Mis- :
sissippi and by the consequent break
down OF locomotives and slower
movement OF coal and food shipments
4 threatened serious coal shortage IN
New York also is said to nave
hastened the decision.
Indications today were that hard
weather would continue, through most
Of the week and railroad adminlstra-
ton officials intimated that tnes
looked for little Improvement III the
transportation situation pefore oa.ui
day. .e !
DeIuaed With Traffic.
EARLY reports showed that without
the embargo order a deluge of traffic
nieht have been expected by tomor-
,oyy as a. result of the re opening or
manufacturing plants after the nve-
day suspension period. Many lnous-
tries. il was expected. would cohtiiiue
IN operate on partial time as resui.
of the embargo order today Thls VIII
,and TO save coal further for domestlc
use and bunkering of ships.
Industries Operating.
Americas industries. idle 1orthe pas
fve days. under the fuel admlnlstra-
t;on,s order. resumed operations today
in the face of congested transporta-
ton system east of the MISSISSIPPI
threatening daily to become worse on
account of adverse weather conoltlons.
AZ the end Of the f1ve-day restrlc-
ton period no official could say TO-DAY
inst what were the effects of the IN
dustrial shut down except that 1t mad
get coal 10 SdDOIaS iOi ShipS'
Homes in many parts of the coun-
try still were without fuel, although at
the fuel administration II was said that
complaints of lack of coal for house
hold needs were fewer than they had |
been for weeks.
Results Not Determined.
Railroad congestion has not been |
much relieved, but it was impossible to |
saw whether the closing order helped !
or not Bad weather nullified much |
of the good effects the general closing !
might have had in clearing the roads, |
and there was a wide difference of |
opinion as to whether the shut down
would have assisted materially in
moving freight, even if the weather
had been good.
Eliminate Long Hauls.
With the director general. DR.. Gar
field set about today to devise scheme
to eliminate cross hauls and send coal
from the mine to the consumer over
the shortest route. Details of the plan
will be worked out by committee of
two officials from the railroad and fuel
a ,iotr !