FACTORIES FACE FUEL SHORTAGE.

An energy expert warned Monday that fuel stocks at heating plants are running low, especially in the Central, Northwestern, and Far Eastern regions of the Russian Federation. The spokesman, Vladimir Gorodnitsky, reported that the Arkhangelsk and North Dvina plants have "virtually no fuel oil," while in Murmansk the situation is so severe that local authorities are preparing an evacuation plan in case of heat and electricity failure. (9) Overall in Russia, heating plants, as of October 1, had received 86 percent of their coal and just 81 percent of their fuel oil requirements. The likely result will be lower output at factories and insufficient heat during the cold Russian winter.

Difficulties Financing Federal Grain Reserves.