New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
bunkering and is on the way to south
Atlantic ports
10000 Tons on Rails


10000 Tons on Rails
Approximately 10000 tons is in
cars en-, route, for Northern Atlantic
ports. With the improved rail condi-
tons, this coal should rapidly fill the
requirements for the vessels now
awaiting bunkers.
The United States Fuel Admins
tration to-day made arrangements for
the continuance through the usual Sun
day holiday tomorrow of the bunker
ing OF vessels destined to the Ameri-
can forces abroad or to the Allies in
Europe Plans were perfected whereby
the bunkerlng machinery at the piers
at New York and at Hampton Roads
NIL VI continue in operation Tomorrow.
This Will facilitate the handling of coal
which has been hurried to tidewater
by the fuel administration and will
turn over to the railroads promptly
empty cars to be returned to the mines
AT the request of the United States
Fuel Administrator, the Director Cen
eral of Railroads to-day placed an en-
bargo on the use of open top coal cars
Tor the shipment of products other
than fuel.
The fuel administration was mott
ned to-day that of 5000 cars of coal
moving on railroads to the East. 900
were consigned to tidewater for bunk
crlng ships and 1000 were on the way
to domestic consumers.
Federal fuel administrators report
ed that coal was going rapidly into
districts for domestic consumption,
particularly those sections where the
need was greatest.
Virginia Shutdown Complete
Harry +. Byrd, Federal Fuel Ad-
ministrator of Virginia, reported an
almost complete shutdown of factories
IN his d1str'et, with consequent relief
from merchandise freight to the rail-
roads serving Virginia ports. He said,
III addition, that enough coal had been
brought Immediately into sight
through the operation of the regula-
tive order to supply the household de-
mands.
"Telegrams from county admnistra-
tors IN Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and the
Mississippi Valley states contained the
information that this part of the coun.
try is getting warm This was taken
to mean that quantities of coal held
back by reason of the congested condi-
ton of the railroads were now getting
through consigneeS"
New Danger Threatens
new danger threatened the coal
output to-day. Empty cars began to
reach the chief bituminous mining
regions in diminishing numbers. This
was due, 1T was said. III part to delay
attending the diversion of coal from
industries closed down to those per
mitted to run. In most of the big in
dustrlal centres switching work was all
most doubled, and consequently there
was considerable confusion in distribut-
ing the coal that arrived.
me diversion was delaying delivery
and unloading and slowing up the
movement of empty cars back to the
mines. Coal production for the next
,ry.l.. y |.
normal, but fuel administration Of
hclais expect it TO increase as soon as
the flow OF cmptles is under way
lhe railroad situation in the Middle
west was SO serious it was suggested
to Secretary McAdoo, Director General
OF the Railroads, that ;.bout half the
passenger trains be suspended for two
Gays to release locomotives for freight.
AT the same time the railroad admin
lstraton was rushing locomotives out
OF repair shops and from railroads in
lne west to help get trains through
the heavy snow drift in states along
Ihe ONO RIVER The railroads of the
-Hloule west were reported moving
only from 20 to 40 per cent of their
normal freight.
Freight congestion on wharves alone
the Atlantic seaboard, officials said
VIII continue until ships are bunkered
and set free. The Shipping Board and
tne war and Navy departments turned
'neir attention 10 speeding up loading
"l'ahgcments and perfectng plan fa
more eihci@ncy IN loading and unload
ing.
Few Violations Found
rev Niolatlons have been noted bv
,uel onlcials, and these, it is believed.
,laNe oeen due to mlSunderstandincs
IN some cases even state ruel admin7s.
,rators nave not understood the order
Dr GARFIELD said it would be easy for
pants TO evade instructions, but he be-
iIeVed there would be few such cases.
nc in'nated, however, that violations
tho T"utu t ps oealt with vigorously under
the food law and that the coal supply Of
offending plants would be cut oH
ne governments desire that plants
affected by the order pay their employees
wages during the closed period was en-
phaslzed to-day IN the following tele
DR.. Garfield: ~
Will you kindly give public express
sion OF my appreciation of the public
spirited and patriotic action of en-
pioyers IN the state who may determine
TO pay the wages of their employees dur
ing the suspension period specified in
the regulation of January IL? The
are bearing their share of the sacrifice
which we are all called upon to make
to the common good"
Despite the efforts of the fuel ad-
ministration to hold down the ALREADY
large exemption list, it was found nee
essary to extend it considerably. The
war and Navy departments found that
TO Keep running plants for which cx-
empton already had been obtained
many concerns supplying single parts
and raw materials would have to re-
main in full operation.
Setback for Destroyers
The navy's problem arose particu-
larly IN connection with work on de-
stroyers. 1t was found that work on
these craft woYld have to be halted
unless plants furnishing many small
0arts also were exempted. Navy Off