Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1918 — FUEL SITUATION AT WORST [ARTICLE]

FUEL SITUATION AT WORST

MANY STATES SUFFERING FROM COAL FAMINENO SUSPENSION, A critical coal situation throughout the east was pictured by Fuel Administrator Garfield Monday night by a dozen state fuel administrators called to Washington for a conference on general fuel conditions. So serious is the shortage that a number of administrators urged that there be no suspension of the Monday order until conditions are bettered. In these states, it was declared, the people are only a day ahead with their fuel supply. The administrator for New York City said that apartment houses and tenements were exhausting their supply and that coal was not available to fill the demand. New Hampshire, with a three days’ supply, had the most favorable report to make of all the states represented. Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland .and Michigan all reported that they were dependent on one day shipments. Suspension of the Monday closing will be discussed today at a. conference between Dr. Garfield and Director General McAdoo. At the conclusion of the conference * last week at which the subject was taken up it was indicated that last Monday night will be the last of closing days, but Monday night fuel administration officials appeared inclined to be doubhful as to whether the order would be lifted. Because of another cold wave over the east, accompanied by high winds which drifted snow badly, the railroads failed to establish the coal hauling record for which officials had hoped in preparation for the decision whether to abandon the fuelless Monday in the future.