The Indianapolis journal., 1901-12-17
Men who Had Coal to Sell Were Also
Greatly i'm Demand Through
out the Day.
SEVERE BLIZZARD IN WEST
WORST STORM SINCE 1855 SWEEP
ING EASTWARD FROM NEBRASKA.
Death List from the Cold Increasing
suffering at Muncie, where People
Stay I'm Bed to Keep Warm.

Come at once TO -, our water pipes
are frozen" was but one Of many pleas
made by householders to the plumbers yes
terday. These requests were paramount
and received attention before those for gas
connections, although the many establish
ments in the city that do such work were
flooded with requests for aid. for botn pur-
poses. Persons who thought coal had ad-
vanced skyward little dreamed OF the as
founding prices hurled al persons VINO
meekly inquired of the man with the gas
pipe cinch." how much he charged for
ten minutes job. The persons were TOO
anxious TO have the work done TO arrange
charges before the plumber or gas htter
began the job and when he had nnisneo
the price he demanded was four 10 hve
times as much as such work ordinarily
costs.
Plumbers say there has never been such
a demand for their services, the people
seeming to forget TO keep the water In their
houses running little, In their EFFORTS 10
make their abodss comfortably warm
hurry I'D call was sent in from house on
North Capitol avenue yesterday morning
for a gas stove connection, the furnace
not furnishing enough warm air TO make
one room comfortable. The gas litter ar
rived I'm a buster, made the Connection, fur
nishing but one Joint and boldly ex-
claimed that his bill was s115 He needed
the money and besides he was greatly In
demand That is but one instance of the
charges made by many OF the pipe wrench
craft yesterday.
A LITTLE WARMER.
The weather bureau said IL was warmer
yesterday than on Sunday, but there were
many who were ready to doubt the asser-
ton. The official thermometer, however,
registered from TO degrees above zero
from noon until p. m, from to degrees
warmer than the preceding day. There
was the usual criticism of the gas COM
panies. The "coal man" was the beacon
light of ali distressed that could AFFORD TO
buy. Heavy wagons loaded with coal could
be seen on almost any street during the
day, the peculiar squeaking so natural to
cold weather being a most musical sound
TO the housewife who was waiting for
scuttleful OF the fuel TO cook the MONDAY
meal.
There was a general advance in coal yes
terday. an average of 25 cents on all grades.
Coke was advanced Is cents on twenty-five
bushels. The retailers claim the operators
are responsible for the increase, and TO
meet the advance IL was necessary for the
fuel 10 De increased IN price 10 lDe COH-
sumers. IL might be said there were many
cases OF petit larceny during the day COM
mitted by persons who were never known
TO pilfer before. Persons who could not
secure an order OF coal wood for i'm
mediate delivery secured the neighborhood
for something to burn. and gathered up
anything that could be carried.
The Charity Organization was busy all
day. five men being kept on the go con-
tinually, investigating calls for aid The
organization has been doing all in its power
r,Ifa h0 afIff N
destitution were reported yesterday from
many parts of the city, and they received
attention as soon as possible.
PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSED.
Many OF the school houses were too cold
for comfort during the day and in a few
cases the schools were dismissed earlier
than usual The public library was closed
during the day. because IL was impossible
to get IL warm The Offices i'm the State
house were more or less uncomfortable.
the State officials and their clerks taking
their turns at the radiators and registers
endeavoring TO get warm. The engineer
went around in his shirt sleeves trying TO
make those who suffered believe 1t was
warm.
The carelessness of persons who drive
horses this kind OF weather has caused
Humane Officer Wilson TO be a very busy
man. At the Union Station yeterday Will
son found team with only one horse
blanketed and he sent the team to the
stable. He told the driver that he would
arrest him IL he failed again TO blanket
the horses. Wilson will also compel horse
owners to have their animals rough shod
The weather man stated last night that
At may be warmer Tomorrow" The pre-
dictions yesterday were for iurries OF
warmer, but below freezing temperature
Reports from centrally located cities yes
terday and especially from Western cities
show that the weather is moderating The
thermometer readings from Sunday mid
night until o'clock last evening were as
fellows: