The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-12-11
HALF TIME
MEANS BIG
WAGE: LOSS
East Chicago Plants Hope
For Early Lifting of the
Fuel Ban.

Unless the end Of tho coal strike
b4s IS immediate relief from the gov
ernluent order closing industries three
.l:.5 S 4 week thousands OF workmcn in
Lase Chicago and Indiana Harbor plants
VIII be cut 10 a three day week with the
consequent cut in wages Already more
than a thousand men have been laid OF
Tor indefinite periods awaiting relief
from the coal shortage. but plant ofd-
Gals are doing everything IN their power
te keep the men at work.
1t Is not known how many Or the
pants viii be affected BY the three-day-
week order but most Of the Twin CITY
islants are planning cutting the trle
!. comply with the order until their
,zact status can be determined. The
Isepublic Steel and the Metal & Therml
Company are already closed entirely, but
her plants in the city are either burn
3ag oil or have an adequate supply o.
coal. II is the belief that plants which
,t.e burning oil VIII not be forced e
close since their closing would not aI
sect The coal situation. but there is doubt
IS 10 the closing of those plants which
aaye coal.
The Northern Indiana Gas & Electric
company has orders TO cut their power
}.sers to three days q veek, but an effort
i. being made to determine which Of the
GIANTS arc considered essential indus
lriess' and would thus be entitled TO
.r.rrate full time AL power users will
.ar the present plan on a three-day-a-
s.eel1 operation. but some viii apply 70
IT, classed as Essentials The ruling
~ essential Industries" is not very
,i.srite and the Northern Indiana Gas d
raectric Company is unable TO determine
which plants should be furnished power
continuously.
There seems little doubt that the Sin
air Oil will be allowed to operate with
,ut restrictions and the Interstate steel
which now uses oil as fuel with probably
not be interfered with. The Mark plant
ia the Inland Steel both have an ade-
..uate supply of coal TO continue oper-
ion for some time and it is hoped by
ae officials that these plants will not
~ forced to close.
At a meeting OF the general superln-
tendcnts of about thirty of the East
chicago and Indiana Harbor plants yes
-rday, at which officials Of the Northern
Indiana Gas & Electric Company were
resent the three-day-a-w order was
discussed and an understanding was
leached. All power users will close
three days a week. but no definite pro-
ram has vet been worked out.
Each plant viii work out its own clos
iag hours and the Gas & Electric Com
usny Will attempt to work out system
for all. The plan will be to have part
.sf the plants closed the first three days
the week and part during the latter
rart Of the week in order that the com
ANY may distribute the load properly.
some Of the plants will close during the
latter part Of this week and others will
rot close until next week. Each COM
many vii be given as much opportunity
possible to arrange the closing days
70 their best advantage but all must
soufo~m to the general plan.
The Northern Indiana Gas & Electric
r,lnpany now has enough coal to last
,.utii the first Of the year and according
IS the government order will be unable
Is get more until the supply on hand
VII last for only ten days II the coal
.hortage is relieved before December p
cr the conservation orders are changed
lia plants may resume normal opera
ion within a few days, but officials see
Int little hope Of betterment before the
first or the year