[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning Star
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 43, no. 219, p. 2, col. 1-2
EXPECT SEVERAL
PLANTS TO CLOSE
Fuel Situation in Muncie Is
Becoming More Serious,
Manufacturers Say.
STREETS ARE DARKENED
That several more Muncie factories will be forced to shut down the last of this week or the first of next week, due to the coal shortage, was ascertained last night from persons connected with the various plants in the city. One plant in the city, it is understood, contemplates using oil burners with a few days if the coal situation does not clear up.
Roy Thurman, speaking for the Indiana General Service Company, which supplies heat to a large part of the city, stated that the plant would operate normally until the latter part of the week. Announcement will be made by the company Friday as to the operations of the plant next week. The factories will not be shut off this week unless by federal orders.
The Hemingray Glass Company will in all probability, be forced to close not later than Saturday owing to the shortage of fuel, was the statement made by Phillip McAbee, general manager. Even though there Should be an adjustment in the coal situation by the latter part of this week, Mr. McAbee stated that it would be necessary to close the plant for a short time.
Republic Will Close.
Ford Benton, speaking for the Republic Iron and Steel Company, stated that that plant would probably have to close the latter part of this week or the first of next week if the coal situation did not change within a few days. The plant will probably have to close down for a few days whether or not the mines are opened. The T. W. Warner, the Warner Gear plants and the General Motors plant depend on their operative power from the Indiana General Service Company. These plants will operate, it is understood, until the Indiana General Service Company can no longer furnish power for industrial concerns
Chase Spurgeon of the Muncie Gear Company staled that his plant had a sufficient supply of coal on hand to operate until the latter part of January or the middle of February.
The Muncie streets were darkened last night under an order of the public service commission providing that the company is to not turn on the lights on moonlight nights. This method has been used to conserve the fuel supply.
Fred Jewett of the Ball Brothers Company, stated last night that the plant had a sufficient amount of fuel on hands to operate about one more week. He stated that the government had confiscated about seventeen cars of coal consigned to them last week. If the coal situation clears up within the next few days, he said that the company would, again receive its coal without delay as the company had bought its coal from mines in West Virginia which had not been affected by the strike. Unless the situation takes a favorable turn within the next few days, the government of course will be forced to confiscate additional coal.