Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-21

Washington, Jan. zo.-The eastern ihalf of the United States win observe ltomorrow generally as a holiday. the first of ten heatIess Mondays decreed Eby the government to conserve coal and to clear congestion from the rail- lroads-
 Although the closing order promul- gated by Fuel Administrator Garfield igoes no further than to forbid the use of fuel for heating. fuel administration officials expect business to cease, and tonight Dr. Garfield issued a direct .request that all retail establishments, except fcod and drug stores close their doors for the day.
 At the same time office buildings were requested to observe the spirit ;as well as the letter of the order and operate no lights or elevators except s1o accommodte the few exempted per- sons who are housed in their build ings- ~ I ?.
 Food Stores to Remain Open.
 Food stores,. which in the original order were permitted to remain open only half the day, were granted a special dispensation tonight under which they may sell goods throughout the day.
 1t was said tonight that the use of fuel for lighting buildings and for op- erating their elevators probably would Ibe prevented during the remainder of the Monday holidays. In drawing the order this was overlooked and thou sands of telegTams have reached the fuel administration asking for a rul- ing.
 While reports to the fuel admins traitor tonight told of an increased movement of coal to householders and to ships under the first three days operation of the five day factory clos ! ing order, severe weather held back the clearing of freight congestion which was one of the chief purposes sought At the office of the director i general of railroads it was said that there was little hope for material i'm provement in traffic conditions until the weather moderated.
 Delivery of Bunker Coal.
 Efforts were centralized today or the movement of empty coal cars bacl : to the mines and to the transportation of bunker coal to the Atlantic sea. board A total of 150,000 tons oi bunker coal had arrived or was CT route for north Atlantic ports, while 100000 tons had been delivered on thu southern seaboard and 100000 tom more was on it's way. At one souther1 port 5000 tons was delivered today to ships that have been tied up fol more than a week.
 At both northern and southern port the organization and machinery fol bunkering vessels was operated all O. last night and today wherever possi .ble. Twenty-four hour operation vii be continued throughout the period O suspended industrial activity.
 Bad Weather in Middle West.
 A return of snow and zero tempera, ture checked the general movement O coal and other freight, especially il the middle west The movement o empty coal cars back to the mines ha. begun already to increase, however according to reports tonight from 4 H. Smith, railroad director for the east Director General McAdoo,s order em bargoing the use of open top cars fo freight other than coal has released t the mines about 10000 cars.
 State fuel administrators were in structed by Dr. Garfield today to exer every effort to hurry the unloading O cars diverted from plants closed dow for household use and to hasten thei movement to the producing centers.
 New Demurrage Rates.
 New demurrage rates, ranging fror 50 to 100 per cent. higher than tn present scale, will go into effect to morrow under an order issued by Di rector General McAdoo, and this is ex ipected to bring quicker release of car at terminals.
 Hundreds of hopper cars have bee eliminated from service because sno, and ice piled between the rails caugh the hopper triggers and released tn load Many derailing accidents an other minor wrecks were caused 1 this way.
 Extremely low temperatures were re ported tonight from throughout tn east Ten below was reported in Hi nois and still lower temperatures i states further east
 List of Exemptions Completed.
 The list of industrial concerns ex empted from operation of the curtail ment regulation had virtually bee completed tonight. From now O plants will be exempted only when is shown their output is needed t prevent a shutdown of industries al ready excepted Both the war an navy departments have selected all tn industries turning out materials deem cd necessary for the fighting force and which can be delivered immedi ately.
 At the fuel administration it wa declared there had been a complet