Evening star., 1948-01-28
Thousands Laid Off
As Shortage Of Gas
Grips Six States
BY the Associo,sd Press

Shortages OF industrial gas mace
thousands of workers idle today
over widely scattered areas of the
Nation.
Hardest hit was the Detroit area
where 100000 factory workers were
laid off, while 25,800 were affected
in Ohio and $4,000 others were
forced to suspend work in the Pitts
burgh area.
In Texas, an acute gas shortage
brought a call for an emergency
business holiday in A South Plains
towns, while gas was cut off to 900
industrial plants as temperatures in
the Kansas City area dipped below
zero.
The gas shortage prompted the
American Brass Co., at Buffalo, N.
Y, to put 400 of its 800 employees
on a four-hour shift. Another
Buffalo company laid off half of its
1900 employees.
Shutdown for a Week.
The curtailment Of gas to indus
trial plants in and around Detroit
was ordered by the Michigan Con-
solidated Gas Co. for at least a week
and was attributed to the cold
wave and a natural gas storage.
However, the effect on automobile
production this week probably will
be less severe than was originally
anticipated.
Wards Automotive Reports esti-
mated the production loss for the
week will total about $4,000 cars
and trucks in the United States and
Canada. The agency said that
while Chrysler faced a possible loss
Of more than 10000 passenger cars
output this week, Ford and General
Motors are not affected materially.
Studebaker, Hudson, WHY'S and
other independents, Wards added,
are not seriously affected this week,
although parts deficiencies caused by
plant closings could hit GIN and
other companies next week, or later.
Briggs Company Is Hit.
Wards said last weeks United
States production was 105,800 cars
and trucks. It based its appraisal
of this weeks prospects on the fact
most automobile manufacturers
maintain several days float" of
essential components.
In addition to Chrysler Corp, the
Briggs Manufacturing Co., and
scores of smaller industries in the
Detroit area felt the effects Of the
curtailment.
The gas company's move, forced
by what Henry Fink, company presi-
dent, called "the most critical situa-
ton the company ever has faced"
came just a day after 100000 auto
workers returned to their jobs fol-
lowing a weekend suspension OF fuel
supplies.
Briggs shut down completely
making $1,000 workers idle, but
production was maintained in the
Hudson Motor Car Co. plant.
Michigan Consolidated reported
two factors, a sharp cut in the gas
volume received from Panhandle
Eastern Pipeline Co. and its own
inability to manufacture artificial
gas, were involved in the suspension
Of industrial gas.
Panhandle normally supplies 1885,
100000 cubic feet of natural gas
daily, Mr.. Fink said, but it cut
that amount Saturday and further
reductions were expected because OF
heavy demands elsewhere.
The company cannot manufacture
artificial gas to supplement the ma
tural supply because the oil needed
for that process is not being sup
piled by local companies, the Michi-
gan Consolidated president added.
Households Warned.
Besides cutting off industrial sup
plies, the company appealed To
household users to conserve gas as
much as possible.
In the Pittsburgh area, the United
States Steel Corps Robena, Palmer
and Romeo coal mines were closed
yesterday due to the freezing over
of the Monongahela River, making
nearly 1000 men idle. Coal from the
laid off about the same number at
mines Is transported in bargeS.
Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp.
its Leechburg and Breckenridge
plants. An estimated 1000 were idle
In other plants of the area, a news
paper survey disclosed.
Most of the layofs were blamed
on an almost 100 per cent curtail-
ment Of industrial gas supplies.
No Gas Until Weather Abates.
The East Ohio Gas Co. in Cleve-
land said some industries will re-
ceive small amounts for plant main
tenance, but that no gas will be
furnished for manufacturing or
processing until the weather abates
In Ohio, 10000 were idle at Gin
einnati, $500 at Dayton, 1,100 at
Toledo, 1000 at Warren, 200 at
Youngstown and 1000 at steuben-
vile.
Warren, Ohio, reported 1900 idle;
Massillion, 1000. and East Liverpool,
1900. Fewer than 500 were ex-
pected to be laid of today in Cleve-
land, but the number may grow to
5000 If the cold continues for a
week.
Mayor C. A. Bestwick of Lub-
book, Tex, one of the largest cities
affected by the gas shortage, asked
business houses to remain closed
today and all residential users to
use as little gas as possible. Tenn
peratures throughout the area were
only a few degrees above zero.
The West Texas Gas Co., which
serves the 44-town area on the
South Plains. said that Levelland,
Littleheld, Anton, Amherst, Sudan,
Muleshoe, Odessa and Midland
probably would be without gas un-
less business places were closed,