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Show FUEL SUPPLIES li mm FAILING Manufacturers Asked to Suspend Operation of Plants for One Week. "WASHINGTON, Bee. 21. Fuel supplies in Michigan have reached such a low ebb that Administrator W. K. Prudden tonight to-night asked manufacturers In that state to suspend operations of industrial plants from midnight tomorrow until midnight December 29. The only exceptions are factories making war munitions needed for prompt shipment. Mr. Prudden's request was contained in telegrams sent after a conference here with Fuel Administrator Garfield. It said: In order to conserve the small fuel supply now on hand at industrial plants within the state of Michigan, I suggest and request that every plant engaged in manufacturing, directly di-rectly or indirectly, any commercial product, discontinue operation from midnight December 22 until midnight December L'9. No exception should be made except ex-cept plants engaged in the manufacture manufac-ture of war munitions imperatively needed for prompt shipment. To conserve con-serve the greatest amount possible of fuel, only such heating as is necessary to avoid great damage by freezing at plants should be allowed. patriotic response and adoption of the within request may obviate issuing positive orders covering a longer lon-ger period. Unless present conditions quickly improve, fuel on hand will be needed for household use. DFTROIT, Dec. 21. A large number of factories in Michigan already have curtailed operations because of the fuel shortage. None of them, however, was engaged in the manufacture of war munitions. mu-nitions. State Fuel Administrator Prudden recently re-cently recommended to National Administrator Admin-istrator Garfield that all theaters and ha 11m and factories not engaged in the manufacture of essential products be closed for the holiday week. He was granted authority by Dr. Garfield to take such action if necessary. Mr. Prudden ieft 'here for "Washing-ton yesterday, but gave no intimation that he was considering consider-ing any immediate request to factories to suspend operations. Five lake freighters carrying coal were recently confiscated and tied up at Michigan ports at the state fuel administrator's admin-istrator's order. The unloading of their cargoes has proceeded slowly. |