Evening star., 1946-12-02
More Plants Closed;
JobIess Estimated
AT Million in Week
By the Associoted Pr.s.

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 2,-Laek
of fuel today made more than
100000 persons idle-in addition
to 100000 miners-as more and
more coal-consumihg industries
shut down, with the prospect oi
sharply rising unemployment
ahead.
The long holiday week end tend
ed to hold down unemployment bui
twin hazards of coal shortages anC
dwindling supplies of steel promised
to strike hard blows this week with
possibilities of 100000 being laid
off at weeks end.
Steels ingot production in the
Youngstown district stood at 35 per
cent of capacity, compared with 81
per cent two weeks ago. Only So
of SO open hearths we're operating
and nine of rs blast furnaces. None
of the areas three Bessemer con-
verters was working. Unofficial esti-
mates put loss of wages at more
than $1.000,000.
Railroads Lay OFF Men.
Forty switching crews, were laid
off by the Pittsburgh and Lake
Erie Railroad in Ohio while the
Pennsylvania furloughed 20 men
and threw crews. The Erie Railroad
sent members of six crews home.
At Chillicothe, Ohio, the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad posted notices that
80 men-50 in the car shop and
10 in the undhouse-would be fur
loughed tomorrow
In New York State the Schenec-
tady plant of General Electric laid
off about $50 porcelain department
workers, with spokesman predict
ing SLOW strangulation. The Bur-
dick g. Sons metal working plant
at Albany closed its lithographing
department and at Troy, N. Y, the
L. E. Gurley Co., manufacturers of
surveying instruments, expected to
close within week with 200 en-
ployes temporarily jobless. Lack of
gas service forced these layoffs.
A survey of IA New York City in
dustrial firms disclosed that if the
strike continues, large majority
of them will have to curtail produc-
ton within 30 days, with monthly
business loss of S2,952, 500, the Com
merce and Industry Association of
New York reported.
Coke Gas to Be Shut Off.
- Heat provided by gas from eoking
ovens in Provo, Utah, was to be
cut off today in about 1000 homes.
Steel mill layoffs in Utah brought
idleness to 105 workers. Others
were on a three day week Railroad
furloughs totaled $50 and the Brig
ham Young University closed until
oil-burning heating equipment can
be installed.
Colorado reported coal dealers
yard stocks exhausted. At Palisade,
Colo, members of the UNIV Local
1772 indicated their approval Of the
work stoppage by ousting their pres
ident, Joe Allen, who said he was
ready to negotiate independent con-
tracts with three operators. Mr.
Allen has been a member of thei
union since 1908.
Approximately 300 public school
students got an unscheduled vaca-
tion at Vassar, Mich, when schools
were ordered closed indefinitely.
Industrial sources in Birmingham,
Ala, said that States idle would
number $1,000 If the coal shutdown
continues two weeks. Cast iron pipe |
plants and foundries employing
more than $4,000 faced an immed1-
ate shutdown after the Birming-
ham Gas Co. served notice it was
cutting off its supply of industrial
gas to preserve output for increased
household use during cold weather.
The shutdowns would increase the
Birmingham districts idle as a re-
suit of the coal strike to $4,000, in
Guiding 10000 United Mine Work
ers and 5000 steel workers, railroad
employees and employees OF allied in
dustries.
UNEMPLOYMENT of almost quar-
ter of million was predicted for the
Pittsburgh district by industrial
spakesmen who said the coal reserve
has dwindled from 10000 tons toI
between 75,000 and 10000.
In Louisville, KY, the ClO leVeled
sharp criticism at the Governments
Injunction against the mine workers,
but, at the same time, James Robb
of indianapolis, district director OF
the steel workers. charged John L.
Lewis with trying to break up
the CIO."
The Kentucky group concluded its
seventh annual convention here after
adopting a resolution terming the
Governments action clear viola
ton of the Norris-La Guardia Act. ;"
Mr.. Robb asserted Mr.. Lewis
timed his coal strike to coincide
with the CLOS national convention, :
and declared "he knew that the re-
suIting surge of indignation would
cause reactionary congressman to
enact curbs against us -"