Evening star., 1918-01-23
|SEVENTY-ONE SHIPS
NOW AWAIT COAL
Remainder of 200 or More in
New York Harbor Week Ago
Have Bunkers Filled.
INDUSTRIES NOW 0PERATE E
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. January %. - But
seventy-one- ships remain to be coaled
of the 200 or more in New York harbor
which had empty bunkers a week ago
according to ]. E. Parsons, director OF
fueling Of vessels here. representing
the United States Shipping Board.
"Of these eeventy-one ships, mono OF
consequence is being prevented from
sailing for want Of COAL" said Mr.. Par
sons today. MANY Of them are await
ing cargo and therefore would not de-
part even though they had been
coaled. Seventeen ships were bunkered
yesterday. We consider the coal sit
uation satisfactory considering the
weather and other abnormal conditions
with which we have to contend"
Coal Saving Nullifed.
New York's many industries. closed
for the last five days by decree of the
National Fuel Administration, resumed
operations today with the coal shortage
still acute. The saving of fuel result
ing from the closing order has been
virtually nullifed, fuel administrators
declared, because of severe weather
and storms that prevented the normal
supply of coal from reaching the city.
The six-inch fall OF snow yesterday.
which almost prostrated fuel trans
portation. was a discouraging culmina-
ton of series of setbacks from the
elements. and the administrators ex-
pressed much concern over the city's
plight.
While the shortage Of anthracite coal
In the city Is reported to be worse
than at any time since the famine be-
gan, there is slight increase in the
tonnage of bituminous coal.
uation continues to improve slightly.
but transportation officials declare
there will be no marked movement
until conditions in the harbor improve.
One result Of the closing order was
that the schools received a fair supply
in Manhattan, except one, have been
reopened. Many OF the Brooklyn
schools, however. are still closed.
Relief Now in Sight.
NEWPORT NEWS. Va, January as
With clear skies and q slight rise in
temperature. the snow and ice which
bunkering of ships here. indications
pointed today to some relief.
Some ships were bunkered yester-
day. but the work was greatly cur
tA1Aeo because OF Weatner conditions.
Still Have Fuel Problem.
CHICAGO. January 23-Industries in
the Chicago district resumed operations
today after the five-day shutdown with
the problem Of fuel still confronting
them. Fuel administration officials
warned all consumers that the most
rigid economy in the use OF coal would
be necessary II the factory wheels were
to be kept moving without further in
corruption. Hope was found in the pre-
diction OF the weather forecaster of
warmer weather for tonight and to-
morrow with some prospect Of jan
uary thaw.
Should this prediction of the fore
caster be realised it-Awas- said.-the
acuteness Of the situation would be les
sened materially. According. sto7J ohm
2. Williams, state fuel administrator,
the shortage of 100000 tons Of coal for
Illinois which he announced last week
had increased to 100000 tons today.
due to further enowfalls and contin. .
ued zero weather in the coal fields OF
Illinois. and which also hampered
transportation lines.
Must Pare Consumption.
'1t 10 inevitable that this shortage
will have to be taken care Of by pairing
down consumption at every possible
point" Mr.. Williams said. However,
II there are no more bad storms we are
hopeful that we will pull through all
right"
The board Of education has announced
as further effort on its mart To save