The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-12-06
COAL SITUATION
Bellies PROMISE.
Operators Feign Optimism Not
borne Out by CurtaiIed
Industries.
PALACE TRAINS OFF

4 .n.t
Chicago, Dec. GA. P.l-Drastic
curtailment of passenger train service
throughout the country. the eastern
and southern regional directors taking
virtually the same action as that two
days ago by the central, north and
southwestern directors, today had
been ordered as fuel conservation
measure. AS the strike Of coal min
ers entered its sixth week, optimism
which some operators were said to
feel was not reflected in actual favor
able developments reported from the
coal fields.
Additional Industries today were
closed or had given notice that op-
Grafton would be suspended after to-
day, while the coal-saving orders that
already had put Chicago on a six
and--one- half hour business day and
affected other cities of the central
west, north and southwest to q lesser
degree were extended to other places.
At Chicago six day, beginning
Monday, was decreed, and it was pre-
dicted by members of the regional
coal committee that few days con-
tinuance Of the miners walkout
would force four hour day.
Only in Isolated Groups.
Only in isolated instances and In
small groups were miners reported to
be resuming production. In the great
central competitive field and others of
the larger organized areas the miners
generally maintained their attitude of
remaining away from work until a
larger wagesincrease than the IA per
cent. decreed by the federal fuel ad-
ninistration was Forthcoming.
Production of coal at the Kansas
strip pits by volu.i.eer workers in
creased, however, and plans were ad-
vanced for similar work in Missouri,
Oklahoma and Arkansas.
In the reduction of approximately
one-third in train miles" ordered in
passenger traffic some Of the coun-
try's palatial trains were affected.
They included the Twentieth Century
way Limited on the Pennsylvania,-b be
tween New York and CnI~. 30.
Substitutes at Premium.
The reduction in the central. north
and southwestern regions is effective
III LllI 6odtliCilf oSpoe1Sy
and in the eastern Wednesday. With
moderation OF the unseasonably low
temperatures that prevailed over
most of the country west of the Mis-
sissippi river for several days, ur-
gencv of field had diminished today.
Many small cities and towns in Ne
braska, Montana and western Kan
sas still were virtually without coal.
hoy ctthStitntag at
premium.
Canadian coal shipments relieved
the situation on the war northwest.
On the eastern side Of the conti-
nent New York Citys conservation
steps consisted of turning off heat in
subway, elevated and surface cars
during rush hours, eliminating heat
ing of cabins on ferry boats operated
by the railroad administration, and
voluntary darkening Of signs by
theater managers except for one hour
the evening Many of the electric
signs along Broadway
remained lighted.
Conference Postponed.
The conference of governors of ten
states set for st. Louis Sunday, has
been postponed indefinitely. Gov.
Gardner, of Missouri, who called 1t,
the meeting would not be
held until the federal fuel adminis-
tration acted on resolutions which
the governors adopted week ago
more liberal distribution
of fuel in the middle west and that
q fuel director for each state be
In connection with the plan to op-
crate Oklahoma mines with volun-
teers, martial law had been pro-
claimed in that state for the first
time. Gov, Robertson placed six
containing coal mines, un-
der martial law. North Dakota mines
may be taken over and operated in
any emergency by the governor after
July l, next, under a bill passed by |
nl ~ thu lnrri Sl q tire |