Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1918 — INDIANA PLANTS MAY BE CLOSED; CAN’T GET COAL [ARTICLE]

INDIANA PLANTS MAY BE CLOSED; CAN’T GET COAL

■ Indianapolis, Feb. 4.—lndiana factories are facing the possibility of suspension of activity oh account of the fuel situation, according to a statement made by the state fuel administration today. Officials declared that Unless there was material improvement both in production of coal and in transportation within the next forty-eight hours there would be a general suspension of manufacturing. The state administration officials said that no relief can be expected from the administration as all coal under its control is headed for Indiana homes. Mines in the state, it was said, are finding difficulty in supplying railroads, domestic cousumers and public utilities and eight other classes of preferred cousumers are going begging. There now are orders with mines in the state for three thousand cars of emergency coal. The state fuel administration expressed the opinion today that the Garfield closing order has prevented serious shortage in many cities and has been responsible for the fact that there have been no death lists in Indiana and other states attributable to coal shortage. In Indianapolis the coal situation is still acute. Domestic cousumers have great difficulty in getting any coal and the supplies at hospitals and charitable institutions are said to be very low.