The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-02
Following Receipt of In- structions From Regional Board, Local Stores, Build ings, Theatres and Others Go Back to War Basis. No Exception Here Be- cause of Water Power

Birmingham retall stores,
 from the big department
 houses down to the smaller
 business establishments, are
 observing. strictly the fuel ad-
 ministration regulations by
 closing at 4 o'clock in the aft
 ernoon and not opening until 9
 o'clock in the morning.
 Observance of the regula-
 tions began yesterday after
 noon and will continue until
 the order is rescinded.
 Following second meeting of the
 day the Retail Clothiers' association
 yesterday voted to comply with the
 latest order of the national fuel ad-
 ministration and at 4 o'clock all of the
 retail stores in Birmingham that could
 be reached by the officials of the as-
 sociation closed their doors.
 In all of the stores there were large crowds of customers who good natured- ly accepted the situation and departed for their homes immediately they were notified of the action of the merchants. CONFUSION OVER SITUATION A great deal of confusion existed during the day over the situation in Birmingham. All the current for pub lie and commercial lighting, the heat ing in the downtown district and in some of the residential sections. and power for many of the industrial plants in the city is supplied by the Birmins- ham Railway. Light and Power com pany. which in turn gets it from the Alabama Power company.
 About 80 per cent of this current is generated at the hydro electric plant at lock 12 on the Coosa river, the bal ance coming from the steam. plant at Gorgas on the Warrior river. The con- fusion arose over the uncertainty as to whether the fuel administration regu- lations applied to hydro electric power. It is not certain whether the regula- tions apply to hydro electric power, but the fact that at least part of the power is generated by steam brings Birming-
 ham within the order of the fuel ad- ministration.
  tain definitely just where they stood. the Retail Clothiers association of Bir- m mingham met at the chamber of com =
 merce yesterday morning and instruct ed the officials to communicate with the regional fuel administration at Att
 lanta and then adjourned until o'clock in the afternoon.
 In the meantime the officials got in touch with $. l.. Yerkes of Bir- ming ham, who is n member of the regional hoard, and he informed them that the order applied to
 Birmingham just as 1t does to all other communities in the southeast, l and, as for that matter. all over the 1 country, similar orders having l been Issued in the other regions l during the last two or three days. l INSTRUCTIONS FROM BOARD When the association reconvened the 1 instructions from the regional board, 1 transmitted through MT. Yerkes, were | Had before the members, who there | upon voted to comply with the order. | It was after o'clock when the as sociation adjourned and the members present began at once to communicate | this action to the merchants generally | in the city. 1 The regulations require all business houses, office buildings. theatres, clubs and institutions not classed as essential l within the definition of the fuel ad- ministration. to shut off lights and heat and power at o'clock in the after noon and not to turn them on until g o'clock in the morning.
 1 The regulations follow generally those in effect during the war, and persons familiar with those in effect at that time will have no trouble in 1xy;r the nreSeNf order The Age-Herald telephones were kept busy all day yesterday answering questions as to whether or not certain businesses were effected. For the in- formation of these and others who may be in doubt the substance of the regu- Iations are herewith given.
 In a general way the regulations eliminate electric signs and display ad- yertising: limit industries, except pub lie utilities and plants engaged in con- tinuous processes that cannot be i'm terrupted, to 4S hours operation per week; permit stores and office build ings to use lights, heat or power only between the hours of a. m, and D. r.. and permit theaters moving picture shows and other places of public amusement to use light, heat or power | only between the hours of l D. m. and 10:30 p. m.
 EXCEPTIONS TO ORDER l Exceptions allow drug stores to re- main open between p. m. and a. m. ! for the sale of drugs alone; bakeries. | dairies restaurants may operate ac- 1 cording to present schedule; barber shops may use light. heat or power un- l til D. m., and stores selling food or l clothing may use light, heat or power up to 3 o'clock on Saturday nights. Other exceptions include railroad sta
 tions, hospitals, telephone or telegraph
 and newspaper offices. and to permit stores and office buildings to turn on heat two hours before opening time lin the morning.
 No ornamental lights ar unnecessary street lights, white ways, outline light ling. electric signs and illuminated bill- boards are to be operated. Street lights necessary for public safety are not af- | fected.
 Stores. manufacturing plants and ! warehouses must not use electric or gas lights (except for safety) except between the hours of a. hn- and 4