The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-12
MERCURY TAXES
 A B|C TUMBLE Temperature All Over the COuR- try Falls Several Degrees
ZERO WEATHER IS REPORTED
Coal Situation Remains Unchanged and Active Search for Manipula- tors of Alleged Ring Will be
 Undertaken in Chicago.

l
 Chicago, January 1.-The temperature in Chicago today dropped "A degrees in less than two hours and tonight is how ering around the zero mark. The cold wave was preceded by snow Toward night a brisk northwest wind sprang up and in the outlying districts the snow Is drifted several feet deep.
 The coal situation remains unchanged and it's effect on the daily increasing de- mand for fuel, has been discussed com pletely and thoroughly today by many different bodies.
 The actual search for evidence of combine of coal dealers for the purpose of forcing up the price of fuel in the Chicago market will be undertaken to- morrow by the special grand jury, which began its task yesterday under direction l of State Secretary Deneen and Attorney General Hamlin. Twenty-Five coal men, | some of them the heads of wholesale firms and others, chief in the councils of corporations operating mines, have been summoned to appear before the grand l ring which 1t Is said exists
 Many Cars Sdetracked. 1 Train loads of coal cars side-tracked and labeled with placards instructing railroad freight crews to hold the con signments indefinitely, 1t Is said, have l been discovered by the parties who caused the investigation to be made. It is also asserted that beyond the city limits, on one and probably on two roads, many tons of coal have been taken from the cars and heaped upon either side of l the tracks for as much as three-quarters of a mile The grand jury will insist upon being informed why this coal has | not been brought into the market and put on sale, thus relieving the coal l famine.
 Two thousand persons in Chicago are 1 suffering from ailments directly due to 1 cold and exposure resulting from the coal 1 famine, according to the weekly bulletin of the health department issued today.
 Serious results are already seen in a | heavy increase in the death rate, and the health department brands the men l sponsible for the situation as guilty of constructive homocide.'
 1 The death rate last week for children under years of age was 19.5 more than in the corresponding week of last year. and among persons over GO years of age | 1t was 60.5 greater.
 Zero Weather in Ohio.
 Cincinnati. January u.-SpeciaIs from different points in the Ohio valley indi- cate almost zero weather, and sleet and | rain storms. In Cincinnati the ther- mometer registered 12 degrees above to- day, and nearer zero tonight Following the rain and sleet of the night street car traffic was greatly interrupted early in l the day.
 At Peru, Ind the snow is one foot deep. factories are closed and there is no electric light or street car traffic to- night.
 At Maysville, Ky, there was a blz- gard today. with northwest winds. At Owensboro the sleet storm was the worst known and street car traffic was suspended.
 The supply of coal Is ample at all points along the Ohio river, but almost all l points In the interior are suffering. as no 1 cars can be secured to haul the coal | piled up along the river. The river being very high at this time and very rough on account of high gales, there is much suffering among the smaller craft.
 Severely Cold in London.
 London January 1.-The recent period of unusually mild weather has given way to severe cold and blustery gales, | Britain. In the north of England and Scotland the fall of snow has been very heavy, trains having been imbedded in snow drifts and locomotives have been derailed.
 Louisville Covered in Ice.
 Louisville, January 11.-Louisville has been a fit subject for a carnival today. A heavy fall of sleet which began early l this morning coated the pavements and streets with a layer of ice varying in thickness from one-half to one inch.
 The brunt of the hardships caused by 1 the sleet and disagreeable weather fell upon the railroads. Passenger trains were from 1 to hours late and the freight traffic was so impaired that the ] carrying power of each freight engine from St. Augustine. Fla. to Chicago. due to arrive at o'clock this morning is 4 1 hours late.
 Cold in Minnesota.
 St. Paul, Minn., January 11.-Although the thermometer registered but two below 1 zero today, it was one of the most disa- l greeable days of the winter. A high northwest wind served to greatly inten- sify the cold and blew lurres of snow in the faces of pedestrians.
 ii Below in Kansas City.
 Kansas City. January 11.-Tonight the temperature is Il degrees above zero In many towns of Kansas and western Mis- souri fuel cannot be purchased, and fruit and shade trees, old buildings, sidewalks and fences are used as fuel.
 Blizzard in Michigan.
 Detroit, January 11.-Lower Michigan has been in the grasp of a snow storm today that has assumed the proportions | of a blizzard
 h Nebraska. Omaha January Hone degree below zero was registered this morning and to- night the thermometer is still lower The | cold wave extends throughout Nebraska | and parts of Iowa and South Dakota.