Evening star., 1945-01-03
Food, Fuel Shortages
Occur in Ohio Cities
AS Blizzard Strikes

The cold wave which has
moved into the East from the
Midwest swe pt New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio with
heavy SHOWS and subzero temp
eratures today, and left Ohio
cities with shortages Of fuel gas,
coal, milk and bread.
AS the aftermath of one of the
worst blizzards in Ohio history, Gin
cinnati experienced one Of its worst
gas shortages since the war winter of
1917-18. President H. C. Blackwell
of the Cincinnati Gas g. Electric Co.,
asked City Manager w. r. Kellogg to
close all bars and cafes as one means
of cutting down consumption. In
dustries are idle because of failure Of
their gas supply.
In Washington, rising tempera-
ture was predicted after a low of n
degrees at 2:45 am. The expected
low Of II degrees failed to mate
rialize. The forecast is for a high
near 40 today and a low near freeZ-
ing tonight, and occasional light
snow.
Seven Die in Cold.
The cold wave to the north and
west of Washington has taken a toll
lof seven lives, according to Asso-
ciated Press dispatches.
In Ohio, milk deliveries were cur
tailed in many sections, notably
Canton and Cleveland as milk
trucks were unable to traverse
clogged highways. In Canton the
supply was cut as much as Is per
cent.
Natural gas service to industries
was cut sharply throughout the
State. Approximately 400 indus
tries in the Cincinnati area were
deprived of their gas supply.
Republic Steel Corp, the Nations
third largest steel producer, re-
ported 5000 to 10000 workers idle
IN plants throughout Eastern Ohio
because of the gas shortage.
Steel Output Cut.
Republic said its daily output of
steel ingots was off approximate tely
5000 tons, in addition to many tons
of semi-fnished steel. At East
Liverpool the Manufacturers Light
Heat Co, banned natural gas for
industrial purposes in part of the
Ohio Valley. The curtailment order,
to save fuel for domestic users,
affected steel mills, potteries and
other factories.
Gas service was slashed so to rs
per cent in the Canton -Massillon
area, and at Columbus some plants
were reported already cut off.
There was a fuel gas shortage
felt in Pittsburgh, where coal de-
liveries Jagged and farm products
ran low on grocery shelves. The
coal shortage was most acute in
Cleveland, where low supplies in
yards and a shortage of drivers
made the situation serious.
The storm brought hardship
throughout Pennsylvania and New
York, and four deaths were re-
ported in New York State, where
the snowfall of 10 to IL inches piled
into drifts, blocking secondary
roads.
Transportation Halted.
Crews labored to keep main
arteries open in the Buffalo area,
where air, bus and taxicab services
were suspended and schools closed.
Trains were delayed, and through
out the three-State area war pro-
duction in plants dropped because
of absenteeism.
The lowest readings during the
night in the eastern section were
4 below zero at Elmira, N. Y, and
2 below at Elkins, W.. Va.
The frozen bodies of two crewmen
and the wreckage of their barge,
Wilmington. of Baltimore, were
found today near Block Island, r.
l., few hours after a terrific wind
and rain storm lashed the New Eng
land coast. One body was identified
as that of the barge master, Hardy
O'Neal, about 10 years OF age, of
South Norfolk. Va.
One death from exposure was
listed in Detroit.
At least one house in Washington
was without heat after firemen were
called at $50 am to the four-apart-
ment building at 1920 E street Sc,
where 15-month- Margaret Ann