The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-11
COAL FAMINE
IN WICHITA
Very Little Fuel in Hands of
Dealers.
AND NONE IN SIGHT
Reports From Over the State
Say Riots are imminent

For the past several years it has been
alleged that the coal dealers OF this city
began bowling a coal famine about the
middle of August. 1t is said that TINS
ruse was taken to have the people I'll
their bins with q winter supply OF fuei'
This year the same thing happened, but
1t was not without formation, for coal
famine is really staring the people OF
Wichita in the face. And the situation is
getting serious. Mr.. George Walker
e;ated last night that he did not believe
there was more than six cars of soft coal
In this city at the present time and there
was absolutely no chance OF bettering the
condition at this time. They had little
coal in sight. There were notices made
Of SHIPMENT some two weeks ago, but
this coal had not arrived and the dealers
do not believe it will ever arrive. The
railroads are charged with coniscatinG
the coal for their own use and refusing
to haul the coal if they need it them !
selves.
There have been few cars of coal that !
reached Wichita. but not near enough to !
supply the demand and the dealers say {
that at the present time they very sell !
dom unload 4 car of coal into their bins |
They have orders ahead and as soon as |
the car comes it is loaded onto wagons !
and hauled direct 10 the houses.
The situation is so serious that only !
warm weather can keep the poorer /
classes from suffering greatly. 1t is i'm !
possible to get fuel of any kind in guam !
titles
Wichita IS more fortunate than most !
of the cities of Kansas. 1t is on lines of |
railroad that have mines of their own /
and these companies confiscate coal only |
when compelled to. if they ever do. Most |
of the coal Consigned in their care |
reaches Wichita, LUt If another railroad /
gets a hold of it. it is alleged. that the |
ccal never reaches its destination None |
of the roads have a chance to store any |
coal last summer and hence must get /
their supply as needed.
All during the fail there was coal |
shortage and none Of the dealers had half
their usual supply and al this time with
a severe storm brewing, they have less
than usual and not much chance OF get
ting more. The Eagle received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Topeka last night.
which shows the situation in some por-
tons of the state:
The coal famine in Kansas is taking
on more serious aspect. Dealers in
Topeka announced today that they were
practically out of coal with no immediate
chance of getting more. The state reform
school has only q two days supply left.
Two manufacturing concerns were COM
PEELED to close down this morning on ac-
count of lack Of fuel.
I'm Ottawa, Lawrence and Atchison.
riots have been narrowly averted during
the past three days whenever a car OF
coal would arrive Much suffering exists
among the poorer classes because they
cannot obtain enough coal. IT is alleged
that the railroads are confiscating large
part of the cool that is shipped. They
are ready 80 reimburse the owners of the
coal in a pecuniarv way. hut their action
males the coal famine much more strin-
gent"