Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-21
Heatless Mondays
Continued from Pace One)

not OVertaken the constant cutting
down of our reserves and the task of
keeping our railroads going and our
public activities. utilities and essential
manufacturing plants in operation has
increased day by day.
The advancing season has brought
us we think to the point where condl-
tiOns are causing discomfort rather
than danger to the householder and
this, we think, has removed the strong
est reason for continuing the fuelless
Mondays.
Whether our manufacturers shall
nurse their diminishing or vanishing
coal piles according to some general
rule, or according to their individual
discretion. does not seem to be a mat
ter of vital public moment.
I'VE also find during this last week
when the adjoining states were allowed
to continue six days, while across the
line our states were permitted 20 run only
five days, that flow of labor has begun
from cur industrial plants TO the manu-
featuring esta tahlishments Of the adjoining
states.
Where the New England manufacturer
succeeded last summer in accommodating
sufficient coal TO carry him along for a
considerable further period of time to
thus permit his labor to be drawn from
him seems to be an Unnecessary hardship
from which no corresponding benefit is to
he obtained This applies with part icular
force to western Connecticut which is in
such close contact with cores ponding in
dustrial activity in New York state
Al, i,,i..t
tors James j. Storrow. Massachusetts
J. {. Hamlen. Maine: G. NJ. Floyd. New
hampshire; George II, Holmes, Rhode
Island: Thomas w. Russell, Connecticut,
and II. J. NJ. Jones, Vermont.
Boston Embargo Lifted
\ development in the coal situation to-
day was the action Of the Boston fuel
commission in lifting the embargo on de
liveries to office buildings. stores and fac
tories.
The order issued nearly two weeks ago
forbidding deliveries to those places ex-
pires tomorrow morning and the fuel
commission announced that it would NOT
be renewed if weather conditions contin-
ued favorable. Tonight a cold wave
swept down on the city. the thermom-
eter dropping from 81 degrees at noon
to 20 degrees at z. NJ
Further coal shipments to New Eng
land by water are expected the result
of conference today between Otis d.
Kent chairman of the executive commit
tee of the New England Coal Barge Tow
ers' Association. and Fuel Administrator
StorroN. After the conference Mr. Kent
said he would ask for more thorough CO.
operation between shipping points in the
South and unloading points In Boston.
Representatives from New York and
Philadelphia were present at the con-
ference.
\ United States collier entering the
harbor with a cargo of 10000 tons of
coal consigned TO the navy was today
diverted to the use of the New Eng
land Fuel Administration by Secretary
Daniels. Secretary Daniels also put at
the disposal of New Englanders 5000
tons Of navy coal already here. Mr..
Storrow announced that the coal would
be distributed to railroads, industries
having government contract work and
several hospitals. He and the COM
mittee on Massachusetts, labor men
who recently visited Washington tele-
graphed their thanks for the coal to
Secretary Daniels and the President
l.. 4. Snead. representing the Ma
tional Fuel Administration. held in
formal conferences during the day
with local fuel committee chairmen
from several Massachusetts cities and
towns with regard TO an equitable dis
tribution among New England consum-
ers of next years supply of anthra-
cite.
National Fuel Administrator Gar
field in personal letter to Mr.. Stor-
row today said that he had placed
New England's needs before the Ship
ping Board and promised il necessary,
to go to President Wilson for ships
necessary to relieve the situation.
The effect of the coal shortage on
the gas industry of New England form
ed the chief subject OF discussion at
the opening session of the conference