Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1918 — 5 DAY SHUT-DOWN STARTS FRIDAY [ARTICLE]

5 DAY SHUT-DOWN STARTS FRIDAY

DRASTIC ACTION TAKEN TO EASE FUEL FAMINE NOW PERILING AMERICA. ' .' _ ——,—- 4- • America’s manufacturing enterprises with but few exceptions in all states east- of the Mississippi were ordered by the government Wednesday night to suspend operations for five days beginning Friday morning, as a drastic measure for relieving the coal famine. At the same time, as a further means of relief; it was directed that industries and business generally, including all normal activities that require heated buildings, observe as a holiday every Monday for the next ten weeks. This will dose down on Mondays not only factories but saloons, stores (except for the sale of drugs and foods), places of amusement and nearly all office buildings. While the order does not mention ship yards, it is known that they will be permitted to Continue operations as usual, although munition plants will be closed. The government’s move came entirely without warning in an order issued by Fuel Administrator Garfield, with the approval of President Wilson, prescribing stringent restrictions governing the distribution and use cf coal.

It was decided upon hurriedly by the • President and government heads aS a desperate remedy for the fuel crisis and the transportation tangle in the eastern states. Even munition plants are not excepted from the closing "down order. Officials Wednesday night would not discuss the far reaching effects the action would have on the industrial fabric, and questions as to how the order was to be interpreted to meet specifi-: problems, went unanswered. The order pr‘scribes a preferential list of consumers in whose interest it was drawn. These users will get coal in the following order: Railroads. Household consumers, hospitals, charitable institutions and army and navy cantonments. Public utilities, telephone and telegraph plants. Strictly governmental enterprises, excepting factories, state and municipal requirements. Factories producing perishable food and foods for immediate consumption. . . Announcement of the provisions of the order was made by Fuel Administrator Garfield after a house conference which was attended also by Secretary Bflker and Secretary Daniels. Early in the day Wednesday, Dr. Garfield had sought the views of other officials and it . was said tonight the unanimous opinion was expressed that the measure contemplated was necessary under the circumstances. . As first drawn and as provided at the white house the order called for th eclosing of factories beginning Friday morning. This was changed upon consideration of the confusion which would result when millions of workers went to their duties unaware of the government’s step. Inclusion of war industries among those to which fuel will be denied caused some surprise but fuel officials explained tonight that war plants have been producing ho much more material than the transportation systems can handle that no serious effects will be felt; War supplies manufactured for export have moved to seaboard faster than ships can move them. . E An exception is made in the case of shipbuilding plants because of the great need for vessels to move supplies already ready for shipment over seas. Fuel administration officials will make an effort to increase production at the coal mines during the period that other business is suspended. Mines under contract to supply industries shut down will be directed in supplementary orders to send their output elsewhere. Coal loaded and on its way to these industries will be diverted. It was estimated tonight the enforcement of the order would save a total of thirty million tons of bituminous coal which probably is about half the present shortage. ’ The indications were that at the end of the ten weeks of Monday holidays, a permanent policy of restricted consumption would have been determined on. This plan will limit the use ■ of coal to the less essential industries under a self-rationing basis. ’ Louisiana and Minnesota, which lie partly on both sides of the Mississippi, were specifically included as a whole in the list of states to which the order applies. I ’ The order is expected to go far towards clearing choked and . congested railroad tracks and terminals. It was regarded tonight as likely that Secretary McAdoo, director general of railroads, might declare a railroad embargo against the shipment of the products of plants closed down if necessary further to relieve the roads. The critical coal situation is blamed oh the unusually severe weather of last week which has made it impossible in many instances to move coal at all and which has cut off the fuel supply of whole cities. Officials who worked out the curtailment plan came to the conclusion that homes must be kept warm at all costs.