Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-18
INDUSTRIES MUST
HALT TO SAVE COAL.
Continued From Page ~

ment will buy all coal consigned to
the suspended industries. These
transactions will be conducted through
the treasury department and it is es-
timated will cost the government
about $25,0O0,0O0. State fuel admins
traitors will redistribute the coal to
food plants and other industries per-
mitted to run.
Fuel oficials decline to interpret
various phases Of the order which pro-
voked a multitude of questions and
many doubtful points probably will be
threshed out before it is put into ef-
feet tomorrow. The Lever bill under
authority of which the order is issued
provides fine of $1,000 or imprison-
ment for violation Of its provisions and
warning was given that it would be
strictly enforced.
The fuel order does not apply to oil
wells, gas wells or oil efineries.
OIL SITUATION Defined.
NJ. L. Requa, director of the oil
division of the fuel administration,
made the following announcement:
''Dr. Garfield has instructed me to
announce that his order reducing fuel
consumption is not to be considered
as applying to drilling or operating of
oil or gas wells, transporting, manu-
featuring or distributing of petroleum
and its products or natural gas.
ut must be understood, however.
that consumers of fuel oil, other than
those engaged in above operations,
are obliged to conduct their business
in accordance with rules and regula.
lions as laid down by the fuel admin
istrator."
HITS MERCANTILE LINES.
The coal order would prohibit use
of coal in stores and mercantile estab-
lishments in these terms:
Wholesale or retail stores or any
other stores, business houses or build
ings, whatever, except that for the
purpose of selling food only, for
which purposes stores may maintain
necessary heat until IL o'clock noon,
and for the purpose of selling drugs
and medical supplies only, stores may
maintain necessary heat throughout
the day and evening"
This would appear to apply to de-
partment stores as we'll as all others.
ILLINOIS SEEKS RELIEF.
Chicago, Jan. ia situation Dor.
dering on chaos resulted in Chicago
from the fuel administration coal re.
order and a high official
admitted confidentially that Illinois
feeling that the state
can adjust itself rapidly under less
drastic regulations. are working to at
tain a modification of the order for
this state.
The public order, 1t was said, left
so much in doubt that industries were
at loss what to do. A concrete ex-
ample Of uncertainty was provided by
The Corn Products company, which
buys approximately half the corn sold
locally on the Chicago board of trade.
1t announced that it would buy no
corn until precise Information was at
hand as to what the government re-
1uires. Inquirers thronged the offices
Of the state fuel administrator, only to
be informed invariably that the office
had no solution of the problems pre-
scented, but that queries would be for
warded to Washington.
BUSINESS MEN At SEA.
The Chicago Association Of Com.
IuC llluOAb ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS as
ISOLATION and other organizations were
N session all day. Feeling was that
Dr.. Garfield's order must be obeyed as
/ war order. but only after every ef.
'ort had been made to modify it to
,uit local conditions.
Samuel insult, chairman Of the state
council of defense and head Of the big.
yest public utilities companies in the
state, issued a statement in the course |
II which he said:
"All should remember that the coun-
ny is at war and the fuel administra- |
ion order is war order. The man
Ter of its acceptance is test Of the
Morale of the public. The government |
ellis us we are in bad situation. We
should all work together to pull our
,elves and our country out of It,"
ST. LOUIS THEATER BAN.
st. Louis, Mo-, Jan. 17.-An order