Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-19
THE MERCURY RISES.
A Probability That a Snow Storm
Will Come From the East.
THE SCARCITY OF GAS CONTINUES,
Many Poor Call on the Department of
Charities for Aid.
COAL TO BE USED AT THE COURT HOUSE

The minimum temperature was degree
higher yesterday than the day before and
with little wind blowing made life at least
worth living. The forecast for to-day is for
warmer weather and possibility that it
will snow.
Indications from the East could not be
received on account of the wires not work.
ing, but it is believed by the Signal Service
people that snow storm is camping out
some place along the Atlantic coast and
that 1t will visit Pittsburg some time be-
tween now and THANKSGIVING.
Gas was still more conspicuous on account
of its absence yesterday than the day before.
Complainants filed into the gas companies
offices with their stories of woe, as familiar
to the clerk in charge as his daily prayers.
The clerk, in turn, with old time assurance,
gave out the information that new field
was being opened, having force enough to
run rival with the region below.
Broken Pumps Cause Trouble.
The Peoples Company is receiving many
complaints, and as an excuse for the short
age it is stated that two pumps at Murrays-
vile are broken, but that they will be re-
paired to-day.
There was considerable suffering among
the poor yesterday and the day before.
Numerous requests for aid were made on
Chief Elliot. Of Pittsburg, and Chief
Grubbs, of Pittsburg. Very few have laid
in supplies of coal, and when the
cold spell caught them without money
OF fuel they besieged the. charity de-
partments. Several schools closed on
account of a shortage of gas, and many of
the teachers expressed themselves in favor
of a return to coal, even if it requires more
work and makes more dirt.
1t is feared among shippers the lake trade
will be closed, and that on account of
scarcity of cars on the Pennsylvania Rail-
Work on rolling stock is being pushed as
rapidly as possible by the company.
Court Had to Adjourn.
At the Court House the gas was so scarce
that sufficient steam to operate the elevators
could not be kept up and during the greater
part of the day nearly all the people in the
building were obliged to wear overcoats.
The lady clerks IN the Recorders Office were
sent home in the morning because their
Office was too cold to work in and at noon
Judge Stowe adjourned Common Pleas
Court No. 1, until to-day on account Of the
complaints of the jurors.
In none of the boilers used for heating
the large building could twenty pounds Of
steam be raised A battery of nine boilers
was used, but the supply of steam raised
was totally inadequate. The tireplaces
were used in the offices, but the court rooms
and corridors were cold.
There was one natural gas company yes
terday which was fully prepared for the
"cold snap"-the Manufacturers. The
Manufacturers was already we'll supplied,
but in addition to its ordinary resources
struck on Monday great we'll on the Pol
lock farm. The private consumers and the
glass houses on the Southside which are
supplied by this company, will be likely to
experience no shortage whatever this year.
Increased Demands for Drugs.
The cold weather is booming the retail
drug trade. The sudden change in tenn
oabs TTa atsn. colo; and
and cough syrups is always better in winter
than during the summer. Druggists
reported that after the people get used to
the cold the business is not so brisk For
some reason at the opening of winter there
is always good call for medicine Coughs
and slight throat troubles usually cure
themselvs toward spring.
Since the cold snap started in
the prescription clerks in the drug
stores have been unusually busy.
This doesn't mean that the death rate
will be higher, but the slight winter all
ments have come. Jewellers also state that
the weather has great deal to do with
their business. The demand for rings and
precious stones increases at the opening of
winter, but this is probably due to the ap-
proach of the holidays. This wear the local
jewellers are afraid that the Christmas trade
will be light.