Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-20
FUEL SITUATION
BECOMES BETTER .
WHEN JAMS BREAK
Plan to Pool Tugs in Vari.
Gus Ports to Expe- !,
dite Work. asa
MEN WILL WORK SUNDAY TO
LOAD VESSELS IN HARBORS
Car Shortage Now Threatens
Output in Bituminous
Mining Regions. ~
COOPERATION IS GENERAL
Or. Garfield Says Drastic Regulation
Is Generally Compiled With
Throughout Land. "a
TBy Associated Press.y

IBy Associated Press.s
" WASHINGTON. January ia mHfkA
cd Improvement in coal famine coma
ditions was reported by the fuel ada
ninistration tonight as a result. 90
the second days operation of tho gov.
ernmcnts characterization order
Houses were warmed Sims ver.
ounkered and. in the extreme East
railway congestion was cleared to some
extent. fuel administration official,
sara, according to Geographic report,
from twcnty-eiEht State fuel admin.
istrators. In the Middle West n heavy
snowstorm and zero temperatures, how
ever. reduced rail movement sharDly.
Inc only important change in ths
closing order made to-day was 4 rul-
ing permitting all places OF amusement
10 remain open on the Monday holf-
days and close on Tuesdays instead.
large number OF industrial plants were
added to the War and Navy Depart
mcnts' exemption list. but tho names
or mono were made public
a special effort was made to-day I'd
provide ships with bunker coal. and
Fuel administrator Garfield arranged
with Chairman Hurley. OF the Shin
ping Board. to pool tugs and barEes
in each Atlantic port where vessels
arc held TO expedite the work.
Pooling was suggested to the fuel
administration by A. II. Smith, assist
ant encouragement OF railroads, who
declared that some piers sunpled with
coal had 40 barges to transport it, and
that others with no coal on hand were
we'll cupplied with barges. Chairman
Hurley tonight started special rep,
resentativc TO New York to assist Mr..
Smith and J. w. Searles. rcprescnta-
tivcs OF the fuel administration. in put.
ting through the pooling arrangement.
Reports from New York said that
thirteen ships were bunkc-ed there to-.
day. despite heavy ice that interfered
with barge movements. Railroad off,
iictals reported that coal was moving
much more freely to the piers and that
il now was 4 question only of getting
it aboard ships. Men Will be kept
hard at work all day tomorrow in tho
principal Atlantic ports keeping tna
coal moving.
Il am determined to take any steps,
said Fuel Administrator Garfield too
night. which may be necessary withA
in my authority to facilitate the SUP.
plying OF ships with fuel"
NEW DANGER THREATENS
BTTUMINOUS NINE REGION
A new danger threatened the coal
output to-day. Empty cars began to
reach the chief bitumnous mining re-
s!ons in Diminishing numbers. This
was due. it was said, in part to delay
attending the diversion OF coal from
industries closed down 10 those PERI
mittod 10 run. In most OF the big Ina
dustrial ccnters switching work was
almost doubled. and consequently there
was considerable confusion in distribut-
ing the coal that arrived.
Fuel Administrator Garfield tonight
issued u statement on tho general slt-
uation. in which lie said:
The general compliance and almost
complete cooperation in the enforce-
mcnt OF the fuel administration reg
ulat!on curtailing industrial use OF fuel
were reported TO the United States fuel
administration to-day. Local officials
Of the fuel administration throughout
the East reported that the order was
generally effective. The spirit of co.
operation showed plainly IN the many
kilograms received kilograms re-
ccivcd to-day were SinguIarly free
from requests for exemption from tho
regulation. Most or them made the
flat statement that the regulation
would DC complied with in fact and
spirit; that manufacturing would be
halted. and that merchandise would
he kept off the crowded railroads.
Railroad officials cooperating with the
fuel administration reported generally
improved transportation conditions in
the Eastern part OF the country. The
reports indicated that the way was
rapidly being cleared for the moves
mcnt OF coat for the bunkcrnS OF tho
ships now held up at Atlantic ports
and tor keeping the country warm.
Improvcm mt was also noted in the
Central West, despite tho continued
zero weather, which mas been impeding
railroad operations.
Reports direct 10 the adminstsa-
ton showed that coal ia transit con-
signed TO. or already arrived at, tide =
water points for tho burkcrinG OF ships
destined to the American forcea Ia 81
Europe and TO the nations associated ~
with the United states in the war were 81