The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-11
FUEL FAMINE.
Causing Intense Suffering Among
Poor of New York.

New York, Dec. 1l-Commander
Booth Tucker last night said:
THE situation of the poor people of this
city as regards the fuel famine is a real
calamity, the full importance of which
I believe is not appreciated.
THE Salvation Army has nearly IL,
/ 600 persons in this city appealing to II
for coal. These people are actually suf-
fering. Up to the present cold snap We
were able to supply about 25 tons Of
coal in peck and bushel lots to the sui
fering. Now we are not able to buy {.
ton. and the coal companies say they
are giving US precedence.
I'VE are thinking of distributing Gil
saturated bricks to the poor. 1 under
stand that these can be used in ordinary
stoves. If substantial relief does not
come soon dread to think of the dis
aster that viii follow
The board of aldermen today voted
unanimously to forward resolution to
the board Of estimate and aDDortion-
ment requesting that the comptroller be
empowered to spend 100000 for coal for
| distribution among the poor.
Alderman John T. Mccall introduced
the resolution, which went through with
a rush. The alderman stated that the
poor were unable to procure coal in
quantities sufficient to heat their homes.
He suggested that the board of esti-
mate and apportiOnment authorize the
issue of corporate stock to cover the cost
of the coal. Not a dissenting vote was
recorded against the alderman's resolu-
ton One hundred thousand dollars
will buy 100000 tons of coalG which will
furnish 100000 pals of coal.
Winters grip on the city was so
strong yesterday that it was murderous-
Men were actually freezing to death.
While the sun shone a bitter wind that
bites and cuts sereeched through the
streets and made the people fairly fly
for refuge wherever it may be had.
The sad thing about the situation is
that these refugees are so few. There
d6SOlaT6 dT6ATV fT60Zing g
homes in New York today than ever be-
fore. The coal famine, about which
there was so much talk when the days
were wet and muggy, is now a grim
reality.
Children in thousands of tenements
are crying to their parents for warmth
that the parents cannot buy. Coal has
scared beyond the reach of many who
in ordinary times never knew what it
was to be without fire.
Even the weI-tO-do and rich are suf-
fering. Coal is so scarce that it is diff
cult to get at any price, Spectators
tailers are buying of them at 50 a ton,
because they cannot buy of the opera
tors at any price All over town the
retail price by the ton is $40, and one
poor who have Is or 80 cents to spare
are spending it for bags and pals of
fuel and dragging it on their backs to
their homes.
Retail coal dealers admitted the stu
alton was serious. They said they could
not fill orders because they could not get
the coal.
Five hundred tons of small pea coal
were placed on sale by the American
Ice company at its Harlem branch One
Hundred and Thirty-sixth street and
the Harlem river. at five cents a buck
ct President John D. Schoonnna ker. of
the American Ice company, decided on
this action early today. when his atten-
ton was called to the great suffering
of the Harlem poor through their inabil-
ity to get coal.
AS soon as The news was circulate ted
through the Harlem district that coal
was to be had for the sum Of cents a
pail the yards of the company were
quickly filled with large crowd of pro-
spectixe purchasers, who stood shiverIng
in lire waiting their turn to get a por-
ton OF the precious fuel.
Distracted by demands of shivering e
tenants for coal, Henry Boiler. ianitnr
Of the fiat building. 305 and 307 Thirty
ninth street, hanged himself in a room
which, curiously enough, is directly
over coal office The body susDendo d
by a clothesline fastened to screw in
the wall was discovered by the wifi.
when she returned from her mother-in-
laws. 300 Thirty-ninth street, where
Boiler last night sent her and the baby
to get warm. He was q years old, am
had been married but a year.
One man was frozen to death on Staten
son died OF exposure and starvation in