Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-01-24
ALMA 0BEYEO THE
CLOSING ORDER
Republic Truck Company. Inc.
And Other Institutions
Closed Five Days.
STORES ON N|NE-HOUR BASIS
Alma Business Men Hold to Hours
With Good Spirit Believing That
Necessity Should Hold Sway.

The closing hours which went into
effect last Friday on orders of Federal
Fuel Administrator Garfield. and State
Fuel Administrator Prudden, with a
view of saving fuel to as great an eX-
tent as possible, and thus relieving to
great extent, the fuel famine, are
how being observed closely, but for the
Srst few days We're rather bewilder-
ing because of their nature and eXtenS.
The Garfield order closed most of
the factories east of the Mississippi
river for a period of five days, with a
few exceptions where factories were
engaged in the manufacture OF food
stuffs and on important governmental!
work. Practically every factory obeyed
orders promptly, and thereby saved a
great amount Of fuel, which has been
for the most part turned over 70 the
homes of the country which have been
suffering greatly from the shortage
The Republic Motor Truck, Inc,
of this city was one of the factories
which was hit by ten closing order.
Friday some fifteen hundred men We're
laid off as result of the order. The
use Of fue was cut down TO minimum
of safety, only enough steam being
kept up to keep the pipes, etc, from
freezing. II saved great amount of
fuel, even at this one institution. The
cost of this and other companies in
laying off, with orders for their out
puts as rapidly as they could be turned
out, naturally hit the concerns, but all
submitted for the general good, as the
fuel administration saw it, and made
the best of an order which could be
little else than disagreeable to them.
Stores and offices were aso hit on the
closing orders. Stores were limited
to nine hours a day and twelve hours
on Saturday, until after the 25th of
March. The order also closed all stores
except those supplying food. all day
Monday during this period. Stores
supplying food are given half Of the
l1usual time on Monday, and must close
ut noon. Restaurants are not hit by
the Monday closing hour, and they are
allowed to divide their time, so as 20
give certain portions Of the nine hours
for each meal, during the day.
The order at first closed all theaters,
movies, dance halls, billiard and pool
rooms on Monday and Tuesday, but
this was changed so that they can op-
crate on Monday. but cannot use fuel
on Tuesday, except TO such an exten.
as is necessary to keep pipes, etc, from
freezing.
The mayors Of cities and heads of
towns and villages were given author
fty TO see that the orders were obeyed,
and Mayor Protein d. W. Adams and
Chief of Police Oscar Vibber made the
rounds Of the business places early
and the open hours of the business
place were settled upon. The stores of
Alma now have signs prominently dis
played, giving the hours during which
the stores are open.
1t may seem trifle hard TO shop
pers to get around and do shopping
during these hours, but once they be-
come accustomed to the hours, there
seems 70 be no reason, why anyone
should not be able TO do their buying
during the hours which have been set.
The coal situation of the country
has become acute in the extreme and
severe measures were needed to curb
the, threatened famine. The people
should cheerfully obey orders, and aid
i'll carrying them out in the spirit in
which they were given. They were
designed for the general good of the
people, and it is up to the people to
sec that they are carried out for the
general good.