The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-11
SHOPS APT TO LOSE POWER
 k NEXT WEEK
Stevenson Dam Hampered By Ice While Snow
 Blocks Coal

Waterbury, Feb. 1.-The Connecti- I lowing statement yesterday afternoon: up to within the last day or so the company believed that a sufficient
 supply of coal would be received to keep the plant running, but the out look over night has taken such a dis couraging turn and the difficulties of transportation have been made so
 much worse by the storm of yester- day that the company fears the sup
 ply of power for industrial purposes
 may have to be ueduced or even dis continued altogether until relief can
 be obtained. There have been a
 number Of causes. which have con-
 tributed to bring about the present
 situation.
 "The coal strike of last November
 caused a cessation in the shipment Of
 coal from the mines as every one
 knows and made it necessary to draw
 heavily upon reserve stock. Just as
 the conditions were beginning to be-
 come alarming at that time the coal
 strike was settled and in addition the
 company's new water plant at Steven son was put into preliminary opera
 tion as there was an abundance of
 water in the Housatonic river during
 December, the company felt that the
 situation had been entirely relieved and there should be no cause to worry for the remainder of the winter.
 'HThe extreme cold weather, how ever, resulted in the freezing up of all streams and caused an abnormal flow of water in the Housatonic river dur ing the month of January and con- tinuing up to the present time with the result that the company has not secured from it's water power plant the amount of power which it would otherwise have normally obtained The severe weather conditions also congested the freight yards which are the gateways into New England and especially the big yards at May'brook, N Y., so that the railroads have for some time been compelled to refuse to accept cars from the mines des- tined for New England with the re- suit that no coal has been forwarded us from the mines since January 19.
 +'The sleet storm of February made matters worse in the freight yards and practically stopped all movement of coal for several days. The company had unrailed, however, a number of cars of coal sufficient, 1t was believed, to tide over the sit1Ia- ton until the weather moderated and the shipping conditions became more normal. Owing to the fact that the railroads themselves were running short of coal as we'll as industries in other cities the railroad administra- ton has been forced to resort to the confiscation of coal on the rails. A large number of cars consigned to us were thus confiscated. The company's reserve stock has therefore been gradually reduced until at the present time there is only about one weeks supply on hand.
 ''The Connecticut Light & Power Company furnishes power for several of the large manufacturing interests in this city, as well as for New Brit ain, Bristol, Cheshire, Naugatuck, Falls and other places.
 For the various reasons stated above 1t is possible that the company may find 1t necessary to either Cut down or even discontinue altogether the supply of electric power for in- dustrial purposes until either a thaw sets in sufficient to start the water flowing greater quantities in the Housatonic river or until some means can be found to get coal from the mines through the snow and ice bound freight yards"