The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14
Several Factories Compelled to sus-
pend Work Because OF . short
age Of Fuel.
FAULT WITH THE RAILROADS
NINE OPERATORS CANNOT SECURE
CARS TO HANDLE THEIR OUTPUT.
ID. M. Parry, August M. Kuhn, George
#. Meyer and e. l.. Dynes Say Sit
uation II Ominous.

Indianapolis Is experiencing the first seri-
Gus pinch of the coal shortage. Several
factories yesterday were compelled to sus-
pend work for a portion of the day be-
cause of shortage of coal. One of the
factories that found itself practically out
of coal yesterday was the Parry cart works.
Mr. D. NJ. Parry said that the company
found itself out of coal yesterday morning
and would have been compelled to shut
down at o'clock for the rest of the day
but for the securing of two carloads of
coal as an accommodation.
'T don't know what Is going to become
of u.s." said Mr.. Parry yesterday-the "us"
meaning himself and other manufacturers.
There Is a coal famine practically facing
us and there seems to be no immediate
relief. 1 have heard from several other
factories and they are In the same fix.
1t will be deplorable If the coal shortage
becomes so great that factories have to
shut down and employees be kept idle dur
ing this period of the year."
Mr.. Parry said there was no coal In
sight to do more than carry the factories
for temporary periods. He said efforts to
get coal were futile except in trivial guam
titles.
SITUATION OMlNOOS.
At the Office of the Island Coal Company.
which is the largest wholesaler In the
city, 1t was stated that the coal situation
was ominous. The fault Is rot with the
mines nor the consumers, II was explained,
but with the railroads. The railroads are
the link between the producer and the con-
sumner and they are unable to transport
the coal that is ready al the mines for
delivery here and elsewhere.
"As a matter of fact said an officer
of the company, ''the local situation is
precarious. The factories have been living
from hand to mouth for some time. Scarce
ly any has supply that may be relied
on to carry them through crisis. especially
the one that seems imminent. Some put
in stock of coal, but instead of keeping
il for an emergency such as we expect
soon, they used IL and ceased buying. Now
they are finding difficulty in placing orders
where they can secure an early delivery.
"Our company, in all its history, never
found the situation so extremely menacing.
We have been able to work our mines in
Green and Sullivan counties only two or
two and one-half days week and our
sidings are full of cars ready for trans
portation. The railroads simply have not
the motive power TO take II away. The
winter is not calculated Z, I; to offer any as
because what the roads Will be able to
handle will be moved with greater diff
Guilty.
COAL NOT STORED.
There Is another feature, too. The long
use of gas by many of our manufacturers
has made them neglect to provide coal
storage capacity. They have depended on
getting their supply as they needed it. In
fact. many Of them have now no means of
adding storage to their factories. Instead
of buying coal in the summer and storing
IL for winter use. they have been buying
for only a short time ahead.
"In the northern part of the State a
number of factories have shut down be-
cause of inability fo procure coal. These
were remote from Athe coal fields. and of
course they felt the effect of the shortage
first But IL II continues cold, relief may
not be expected. but rather Ii may be ex-
pected that many other factories wifi have
TO shut down until coal supply can be
secured"
! George F. Meyer. Of A. B. Meyer = Co..