The Washington herald., 1918-03-22
ZONE SYSTEM
ORDERED FOR
COALO OUTPUT
Administrator Garfield Is
sues New. Shipping
Regulation.

Zoning districts for better distribu'
ton and increased production OF
bituminous coal of the country during
the year beginning April were an
nounced yesterday jointly by DR.
Harry A. Garfield. Fuel Administrator
and William G. McAdoo. Director Gen.
eral OF Railroads. More than a score
of separate zones are laid out.
Scheme Is Simple.
They plan a simple, direct scheme
of delivering coal to the nearest con-
suming points. They eliminate use
less hauling of thousands of miles
which the competition heretofore ex-
isting among the coal producers made
necessary.
They do away with the cross haul as
much as possible. one of the worst
bugaboos of the Fuel Administration
and the Directors General of Rail-
roads. By the saving on transporta'
ton they automatically increase pro-
duction by millions of tons.
Every effort will be made to pre-
serve long-established trade relations
ilS hha'
they believe there will be a general ad-
vance in the coal business conditions
as the natural result of the elimination
of transportation waste. Some dislo'
cation is bound to result. but assur'
ance is given that the whole general
scheme will be the most effective pos
sible to furnish the great quantities
of coal required for the successful
prosecution OF the war.
There can be no evasion of the or
der. Coal men must obtain their sup
plies from the nearest districts as laid
down, and the coal producers must not
ship to territory not prescribed def
nitely in the regulations.
Estimated Saving.
Aside from the great saving in
transportation. the zoning system will
provide for the possible retention OF
something like 100000 tons of coal
for the Eastern States which hereto
fore has gone West by rail.
The zone system affects all btu
minous coal except: Coal for railroad
fuel for which special arrangements
will be made by the Fuel Admins
traitor and the Director General Of
Railroads.
Coal for movement on inland water.
ways which is in no way restricted
by the system.
Coal delivered to Canada which is
subject to regulations of the Fuel Ad-
ministrator
The zone system plans distribution
from the following groups, some OF
the groups taking care of complete
States while others naturally over.
lap:
New Districts.
Producing districts in Missouri, Ar
kansas. Kansas. Oklahoma and Iowa
will be restricted to the following
markets lin whole or parD: Ne
braska, Kansas. Oklahoma, Missouri
Arkansas and louisiana
Coal docks of Lake Michigan and
Lake Superior, restricted to: North
Dakota. South Dakota. Minnesota
Iowa. Wisconsin and Michigan.
Producing districts in Illinois, re-
stricted from April l to September 30
to: Wisconsin. Minnesota, South Da-
kota. Iowa. Missouri, Arkansas. Lou
isiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, H.
linois. Indiana and Michigan. Re-
stricted from October TO March 81,
to: Wisconsin. Iowa. Missouri, Ar
kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ken.
lucky. Illinois. Indiana and Michigan
Producing districts of Indiana, re-
stricted to: Illinois, Kentucky, Wis.
consin, Michigan.
Producing districts In Western Ken.
lucky. restricted to: Kentucky. Ten
nessee. Mississippi. Arkansas, Louisi-
ana, Texas. Illinois, Wisconsin and
Indiana.
Producing districts of Virginia. re,
stricted to: Kentucky. Indiana, Ohio
and Michigan.
Producing districts Of Tennessee
Georgia and Kentucky. restricted to:
North Carolina. South Carolina.
Georgia. Tennessee, Alabama, Vir-
ginia and Florida.
Producing districts Of Alabama re-
stricted to Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ten
nessee, Arkansas.
Producing districts OF Ohio restricted
to Ohio. Indiana. Michigan.
Producing West Virginia high vola-
tile fields restricted to Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan.
Producing West Virginia and Ken
lucky high volatile fields restricted tc
Michigan lower peninsula, Ohio, In
diana. Kentucky. West Virginia, Vir.
ginia-
Producing West Virginia low vol.
atile fields restricted to District OF
Columbia. North Carolina, Virginia,
Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, South
Carolina.
Warning is given that a much
larger movement by water must be
provided for in 1918 than last year
or New England will suffer. This
situation will be made the subject
Of special study by a committee
representing the United States
Shipping Board, Railroad Admins
tration. Fuel Administration, coal
operators. railroads involved and
the consumers.
The method Of enforcement Of the
zoning system is that the Fuel Ad-
ministration prohibits distribution
beyond the limits and the Railroad
Administration supplements these
prohibitions by railroad embargoes
When permits shall be issued by
the Fuel. Administration to admit
of distribution beyond the zone lin
its, such permits will operate as
exemptions from embargoes.