Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-09
COAL SHORTAGE IS SERIOUS
Biz Consumers Of Steam Varieties Are on
the Anxious Seat.
MOTOR COMPANY IN WORST PREDlcAWENT
water Works and Gas Company Also
Down to Point where only one
Days supply is in
Sight.

Council Bluffs Is on the vergs Of a steam
coal anime and unless shortly relieved
several Of the public utilities will possibly
have to suspend operations. The scarcity
Of the supply Of this kind Of coal yesterday
very nearly proved disastrous to the motor,
electric light and water works companies.
Not since the coal strike has this situation
been so keenly felt here and the big cor
porations, which are the large consumers
Of this kind OF fuel, are all on the anxious
seat.
For several days the motor company hiss
been barely receiving sufficient steam coal
to keep its power houses going and last
Sunday It was nearly compelled to stop
running its cars for lack Of fuel. At one
time Sunday there was but little over one
hours supply on hand and had not a ship
ment reached the power houses in time to
save the situation that afternoon the serv-
ice would have been suspended. Yesterday
morning the supply again became nearly
exhausted owing to the delayed arrival OF
a trainload Of coal. At IL o'clock the sup
ply on hand was barely sufficient to keep
the power hous going for two hours
longer. Many Of the heavy cars we're taken
off the line between this city and Omaha
and all heat was shut of in the cars on the
entire system. For a time It looked as II
the company would have to shut down for
lack Of fuel, but shortly after noon the sit
uation was temporarily relieved by the ar
rival of several cars Of coal. The situation
is, however. still most precarious, as the
supply Is barely SUFFICIENT to. keep things
moving without placing a ton in reserve.
superintendent Harrington stated that
there was plenty of coal on the way here,
but that the railroads appeared to lack the
necessary facilities to transport 1t and this
was what caused the delay.
other Companies Anxious.
The Electric Light and Gas company is
also on the anxious seat, as its supply is
almost down to bedrock and the arrival OF
more coal is uncertain. So far the COM
pany has managed to secure sufficient coal
to keep the plant running, but one more
days delay in the arrival OF it's orders
would place the company in serious dim
aulties and probably result In the plant
shutting down or running on half time un.
til the situation is relieved.
The Water Works company yesterday
morning was face TO face with a serioue
condition. 1t had but sufficient steam coal
to keep the pumping stations going for
about three hours and when that was ex-
hausted It would have been compelled to
use up Its reserve supply of lump coal. OF
lump coal the company had SUFFICIENT on
hand to keep the pumps going for another
twenty-four hours. Manager Hart was not
overanxious, however, as he anticipated the
delivery Of several cars during the night,
which would relieve the situation, and even
in the event OF a further delay the reser-
voir would be good for two days supply OF
water. The situation, however, was sum
GENTLY serious to necessitate the hurryine
of coal in ton lots secured from local deal
ers to the several pumping stations.
The Peavey elevator at the Union Pacific
transfer shut down Wednesday evening fol-
lack Of coal. and the Pintsh Gas works,
which supplies the gas for the Pullman and
other railroad cars on the trains leaving
the transfer depot, was in a serious pre-
dicament yesterday. 1t had but sufficient
coal to keep up steam for a few hours and
orders were issued to turn over to 1t the
first cars OF coal which reached the trans
fer yesterday afternoon.
The supply Of coal for domestic uses is
keeping up with the demand, although
practically not a pound OF anthracite car
be bought In Council Bluffs. Local dealers
regard the situation as serious, as should
there be a railroad blockade on account Of
storms the supply here would soon be ex-
hausted,