The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-12-05
Seizure
 Of Mines
 Is Remedy
Governors of Many States Preparing to Resort to Drastic Measures for Pro lection of Their People.

Chicago, Dec. 5.---Efforts of gov ernor5 of at least ten states to have sufficient coal mined to provide for domestic consumers and absolutely essential industries marked the prog ress today of the strike of tbituminous coal miners.
 Restrictions had been placed on consumption of fuel throughout the country from New York city to the Sierra Nevada mountains as the gen eral situation at the mines showed virtually no improvement and the miners maintained their attitude of hostility toward the proffered 14 per cent. wage increase.
 Effective at 12:01 Monday morning the most sweeping reduction of rail- road service In history-reduction in passenger service of one third in train miles on all railroads diverg- ing west, southwest, and northwest from Chicago-had been ordered. Regional directors of the central western, southwestern and north western regions estimated that that step alone would save 11,GOO tons of coal daily. Other curtailments of railroad service were being consider ed today.
 Additional industries faced shut downs and more drastic conservation rules for cities that would bring them on a parity with Chicago and Kansas City, were in prospect. Preparatory to state oeration 15 Missouri mines had been seized under a gubernatrial proclamation. In Arkansas volunteer operation of mining property was promised by the governor by Monday.
 Looking toward possible settlement | of thee cal strike on a state basis, the governor of Ohio has called a con- 1 ference of represe Il tatives of the op- | orators and the approximately 42,oe0 l Ohio miners. Ten days further pro 1 traction of the strike would throw | out of employment 780,000 men in l Ohio, persons in touch with the gov l ernor estimated.
 1 Michigan manufacturers anxiously | awaited the outcome of the gover- | nor's efforts to bring about tempor- l arv settlement of the strike in that | state.
 | In Tennessee, Governor Roberts had called a netting for tomorrow of op- orators and miners to consider steps | to end the strike without state seizure Of the mines.
 | Relief for dometsic consumers in Montana where possibly the most ac- 1 tual Sun 1rC the coal SnofLdSe
 has been reported, today was in sight. with the announcement that coal was
 en route from Canada. State opera
 tion of some Montana mines was planned.
 Shipments from the Kansas surface mines also were expected to relieve the situation in the western part of the state.
 Portions of Wyoming and Nebraska
 still were without promise of imme- diate relief, however
 Except for the order cutting of
 bunker coal from ships flying foreign
 flags, the first conservation measures
 along the eastern seaboard were in effect today with the curtailing of the
 use of electricity at New York Pub lie Service Commissioner Nixon di- rected that the heating in subway, elevated and surface cars be reduced
 for two weeks during rush hours. He
 permitted normal heat to be main
 tained during slack" time. New
 York theatrical managers requested all theatres to darken electric signs except for one hour after D. m.