The Washington herald., 1918-01-20
Dad Administration
Acts on Suggestion of the
Fuel Chief, Who Re-
ports Progress.
AMUSEMENT HOUSES
TO CLOSE TUESDAY
Allied Fleets in Atlantic
Ports Rapidly Being Bunk
cred; Domestic Needs
Are Met.

Expediting the movement Of coal
and clearing the congested ports of
their fleets of allied ships. the gov
eminent last night issued an en-
barge against the use of open top
cars for anything except coal.
Putting the order into effect. the
following letter was sent to Dr..
Harry A. Garfield. fuel administra-
tor. by Hale Holden. Of the ad-
visory committee Of the railroad
administration: .
The director general of rail-
roads has noted. with appreciation.
and asked me to acknowledge for
him your letter of the 18th In
slant, suggesting that during the
FIVE days period covered by your
order of January z. 1918. the load
ing of other freight in open top
cars suitable for coal loading be
embargoed.
Instructions in accordance with
your suggestion have beer :sseed
by A. H.. Ssb.th. assistant TO the
director general"
Embargo Wins Praise.
Officials of the National Associa-
tion. representing more than 3OO.-
J 000.0 tons annual production OF
bituminous coal, or more than half
the annual product, characterized
the embargo order as zone Of the
most important steps yet taken to
relieve the coal situation"
Prediction was made by officers
Of the association that immediate
results would be apparent, not only
in quicker movement Of coal but
in increased production at the
mines. II will release. il was stated.
thousands OF open top cars now
being used for the transportation
of sand, gravel, cement, iron. lum-
Der, ties and even automobile
Other thousands will be released
that are now held on sidings laden
/ with scrap iron and Stag. Many OF
! the latter. the operators said. were
I in the area around youngstown and
Pittsburgh. where blast furnaces
had dumped the molten Stag into
the cars and left it here to freeze.
With 10000 tons of bunker coal
being handled in the port of Nor
D =
for the bunkering of ships. the Fuel
Administration was optimistic that
the whole entangIed situation would
be relieved greatly within the next
few days il there was no further
setback from the weather.
Statement By Garfield.
Explaining the work that had
been accomplished. DR.. Garfield IS
sued a statement, saying:
General compliance and almost
complete cooperation in enforcement
Of the Fuel Administrators regula-
ton curtailing the use OF fuel was re-
ported to the administration today.
Local officials of the Fuel Adminis-
tration throughout the East reported
that the order was generally effective
A spirit of cooperation shows plainly
.
Fuel Administration. kilograms re-
ceived today were particularly free OF
requests for exemption from the reeu-
lation. Most Of them made the nat
statement that the regulations would
be complied with in fact and in spirit.
that manufacturing would be halted.
and that merchandise would be kept
from crowded railroads.
Railroad officials cooperating with
the Fuel Administration reported gen
orally improved conditions in the East
ern part OF the country. The reports
indicated that the way was rapidly
being cleared for the moving of coal
for bunkering ships now held up IN
Atlantic ports and for keeping the
country warm. Improvement was also
noted in the Central West, despite
continued zero weather which has i'm
peded railroad operation.
In West virginia.
Reports from the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad showed a car supply
OF l.SO5 cars available for mines IN
West Virginia. an increase Of 900 over
the day before. On the first day the
regulation was effective this road
moved LOO loaded coal cars consigned
in accordance with the order in the
West Virginia coal field. This was the
best movement OF coal that this road
has shown in that district in sixty
days.
From Philadelphia Il was report
ed that rail conditions generally be-
tween Altoona and Philadelphia.
which have been much congested.
were much improved
Reports direct TO the Fuel Admins
tration showed that coal in trans
consigned 70. or already arrived ..
tidewater points for ounkcring ups
destined to the American forces Eu-
rope or 20 the nations associat, with
the United States at war. VIC today
more than sufficient to bu ker the
ships now in port Supplies ow suffi-
cient TO insure prompt bU gering OF
essels for some time to CO e are en-
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