PARALYSIS CREEPING OVER U.S. ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Chronicle (Levin), 11 May 1946, Page 5

PARALYSIS CREEPING OVER U.S. ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 9.0 p.m. NEW YORK, May 9'. Paralysis is creeping tliroughont the nation' 's economic system as- the soft cpal strike passes its 39th day and already restrictions which ivere- never considered ■ liecessary in wartime, are being imposed. The latest es-timate is-tijat more than 1,300,000 workers, including 400,000 strikiiig miners. have. been made- idle- by the clispute. More than 2,000,000 are either idle or working part time in the mdiistrial areas of- Boston, Chieago, Cleveland, New Detroit and Pittsburgh and the figure is expected to be 2,500,000 within ten days and 3,500,000- by tlie end of the month. A Government order tonig'ht lialts all but essentral fieight food and fuel — on steampowered ra-ilroads and cuts passenger transport one quarter. Tbe antomobile industiy is collapsing. under the freight embargo, and lack of fuel. • At least 350,000 automobile workers will shortly be temporarily without jpbs.. The smoke oi' prosperity is thinning over Pittsburgh where 35 000 steelworkers are idle. Forty thousand and more will be lai'd off: at the end of next week. It is reported that^ about 100 Great Lakes steamers are tied up by the order prohibiting the earriao-e of non-essentials. It is predicted 600,000 textile workers will be iuiemployed within a fortnight. Lack of refiigeiation j cars is causing the greatest fruit loss in California's history while lack of tinplate is closing down canners throughout the country.