According to the Portland papers, the whole of New England is in danger of a coal famine because of the frozen condition of the coast and all manufacturing establishments are in danger of being forced to suspend work. The supplies of the largest dealers are no more than enough to meet demands. All the coal shipped during the past two weeks, amounting to thousands of tons, is tied up along the coast. Maine people are greatly inconvenienced and unless their supplies are replenished immediately many of the mills will be shut down.

50 Years Ago, 1955

• Complaints coming to the Journal from Lewiston citizens to the effect that many local youths under 16 years of age have been purchasing cigarettes in stores, has drawn comments from the police and educators of the city. According to State law, the sale of or the intent to sell cigarettes to children under 16, is punishable by a fine of not more than $50 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days.

• To create some 20,000,000 new jobs that will be needed to maintain the American economy in the next 20 years, there’ll be a need for more factories, better roads, and rapid development of water power and other natural resources, Bates College President Charles F. Phillips said at Augusta.

25 Years Ago, 1980

The year 1979 marked the emergence of the Maine Army National Guard as the best of 53 states and territories that comprise this Country’s National Guard. “Each person of this State can be proud of our men and women citizen soldiers who have trained hard during the past year not only using their skills in providing a helping hand to communities, but most importantly maintaining a state of readiness second to none for any State emergency or national defense commitment,” said General Paul R. Day, Maine Adjutant General. The National Guard Bureau in Washington selected the Maine Army National Guard as Number One as a result of having the top composite performance profile.