The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-22
new COAL Zone
Plan ORDERED;
EFFECTIVE APRIL |
Restricts Distribution Gut
ting Off Indiana from East
ern Field.

INDIANAPOLIS, March %. - The
zone system for the Distribution OF
bituminous coal becomes effective IN
indiana April l, with the beginning OF
the new coal year. according to an an
nouncement yesterday afternoon oy
Evans Woollen, federal fuel admins
traitor for Indiana, who said the gen.
eral effect of the system Is to restrict
Eastern coal to Eastern markets and
10 I'LL the vacancy In the central and
Western states with nearby coal pro-
duced in those states.
Mr.. Woollen's announcement was
made public following receipt OF q
long message from Washington. de-
scribinx the application OF the system
"a Indiana districts, early in the day,
and after a conference with G. G. Hall.
district representative Of the national
fuel administration, whose heaoquar-
ters are at Terre Haute.
Little Coal From South.
rrnAer the system Indiana will get
but small quantities OF coal from West
Virginia, Virginia, southeastern hen-
lucky, Tennessee and the west VT
ginia high volatile fields, ana VIII
have to rely, coal men say. mainly up
on its own mines and the mines OF
Illinois and Ohio on either side.
"Mr. Hall and have spent the art
ernoou in consultation on the prob
lens Of the ensuing year." said Mr..
Woollen in discussing the zone sys-
tenn. "and we agree that the one Ell.
fectual solution is the laying In OF
coal. am convinced that il the war
continues less coal can be mined and
distributed next winter than last win
ter.
II advise that householders buying
Indiana coal insist on getting four
inch lump or at the least, two-and-a-
half.inch lump. 1t stores much better
and in normal times commands from
25 to so cents more per ton than the
inch-and-a-quarter."
Based on Transportation.
In discussing the plan Mr.. Hall
said:
1.-THE zone system has been worked
out Jointly by the representatives OF
the United States fuel administration
and the United States railroad admin
istration and the plan adopted pro
vides for a consuming territory to be
supplied by the various coal produc
ing districts of the country. One OF
the prime objects of the plan Is to con
fine the coal from the various coal
producing districts to a consuming
zone which will result in the most
economical and practical use of trans.
portation facilities. This, of course
contemplates the utilization of the
short line movements and the avoid
ance Of cross-hauling of coal.
"Inasmuch as the transportation ia.
cilities have been the greatest re-
stricting factor in the production and
distribution of coal. any plan which
has for it's purpose the more econom
ical use Of transportation facilities is
highly desirable.
Territory Limited.
zone result of the coming plan will
be to confine Indiana coal to a more
limited territory, and this should un.
doubtedly enable consumers of Indi
ana coal to acquire at least limited
stock of coal during the spring and
summer months and be in better posi-
ton to withstand the heavier demands
upon the producing district when con
sumption of coal is at its maximum
during the coming winter"
The zone system for Indiana follows
the appended lines:
Line From Evansville, Ind, via
c., r. & /. Railway, through Otte,
Creek Junction and Brazil to Wheat
field; thence VS.. N. Y c. Railroad tC
South Bend. Ind; thence via the
Michigan Central Railroad to Niles
Mich.
Line From Madison, Ind, via. the
p, c., c. & st. L. Railway to NORTH
Vernon; thence via the c., c.. C. & st
l.. Railway to Richmond; thence viz
the G. r. I. Railway to Fort Wayne
Ind: thence via the N. Y. c. Railroad
on the line to Jackson, Mich.
Line SC. I. & l.. Railway from
Louisville. Ky. to Michigan City. Ind
Line 1.-The Pennsylvania line!
west rom Cincinnati. o.. through
Hamilton, O., to Richmond, Ind.
thence east To the Indiana -OhiO stat,