Heatless Mondays

On Monday, February 4 Mary describes the weather as being very cold and writes: "Heatless Monday was a good name for it." 

The Committee on Public Information headed by George Creel mentioned in yesterday's post published the Official Bulletin.  The January 17, 1918 Official Bulletin was headlined: "Fuel Order Stops Certain Industries from Burning Coal on Designated Days" outlined rules of the Fuel Administration headed by Harry Garfield.  The order mandated that from January 18-23 and then every Monday until March 25, no coal would be burned as fuel east of the Mississippi River with exceptions primarily related to the war effort.

No fuel for the purpose of supplying heat was to be burned for:
"(a) Any business or professional offices, except offices used by the United States, state, county, or municipal governments, transportation companies, or which are occupied by bankds and trust companies or by physicians or dentists.
(b) Wholesale or retail stores, or any other stores, business houses or buildings whatever, except that for the purpose of selling food only, for which purposes stores may maintain necessary heat until 12 o'clock noon; and for the purpose of selling drugs and medical supplies only, stores may maintain necessary heat throughout the day and evening.
(c) Theaters, moving-picture houses, bowling alleys, billiard rooms, private or pubic dance halls, or any other place of amusement.
  On the above specified Mondays, no fuel shall be burned for the purpose of heating rooms or buildings in which liquor is sold on those days."