1918 | Energy
Energy
U.S. Fuel Administrator Harry A. Garfield orders all plants east of the Mississippi to shut down January 16 if they are not producing essential war materials. The purpose of the order is to conserve coal needed for troop transports, warships, and merchant vessels, the order remains in effect for 5 days, and it is followed by nine Monday closings. The Fuel Administration orders four lightless nights per week beginning July 24 to conserve fuel for the coming winter. The order remains in effect until November 22.
Dutch interests open the Schottegat oil refinery on the Caribbean island of Curaçao December 5, using petroleum brought in from nearby Venezuela (see 1914). The island's population increases as immigrants pour in from Venezuela and Europe (see Venezuelan oil, 1922).
Matsushita Electric Co. has its beginnings as Japanese entrepreneur Konosuke Matsushita, 27, invests $50 to start a firm that will manufacture electrical adapter plugs (see food and drink [rice saucepan], 1946).