Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-13

Rural Carriers Have Hard Time -
The Situation in Detail.
Marshalltown is facing in its most
alarming realities, n coal famine, the
worst that has been seen IN it's MS
tory. Alarm was sounded Il few days
ago thru the T.-R.. of what might be
expected If certain conditions prevailed
and those conditions are now fast app
proachin. The blockade of the rail-
roads is far from being lifted, and the
situation in that line Is not improved
over what il was Saturday. What Il
The railroads will not prophcsy what
may come. altho yhey are doing then
best to move trains, and especially
those from the south. from the mines
of southern Iowa and Illinois.
While the situation is unchanged to-
day over that Of Saturday, there were
five cars received in the city Sunday.
There was such a demand for the coal,
however, that the dealers had no more
on hand today than they had Satur-
day Coal drivers were busy all day
Sunday delivering the coal in small
lots. in order to accommodate as many
consumers us possible. The Arson
Company, which has the school con-
tract, has nothing whatever to sell on
the general market, excepting hard
coal at $3.50 per ton. 1t is furnishing
coal to the school buildings as fast as
possible, but is supplying Il grade that
is much higher in price than the con-
tract coal. The supply on hand at
present will last the schools two and
one-half or three days.
AS a result of the shortage in coal
two of the largest factories of the city,
the Lennon Machine Company and the
A. Il, Shortiill Company, have shut
down indefinitely. No time has been
set for the beginning of work, but
operations will be resumed just as soon
as coal can be secured. The city is
pretty we'll supplied, considering the
condition of others, and has enough
coal on hand to last thru Wednesday,
providing the lighting plant is not oper-
ated. Commandant Horton, of the Sol
diers' Home, expects to be white hair
ed unless the situation is relieved with
in a few days. for he has not more than
enough coal to last one more day. EV-
cry effort is being made to supply the
Home to the detriment of even the
manufacturing institutions and the
general run of consumers. TO private
patrons dealers are supplying as far as
they can in bushel or half ton lots. in
order to prevent suffering. The poor
are at the mercy of the clements and
the office of Overseer Pemberton was
thronged with people today, seeking
aid. The county has supply of II few
days, and the schools, it is thought,
can be kept running.
Cannot Get Coal Already Billed.
The factories that have closed down
coal that has been billed to them for
a week or ten days. The LennoX Ma
chine Company shut down Saturday
night, having on hand barely enough
coal to keep the building warm enough
so that water pipes and gas will not
freeze. Coal billed week ago today.
has not been heard of. The company
has en- hand about thirty tons of
blacksmith coal, but it cost 1928 per
ton, and is too expensive to use for
heating and operating purposes.
The A. Il. Shorthill Company gave
orders to close down this morning, but
the factory is being kept warm to
prevent freezing, by the use of coke.
Coal shipped two weeks ago from
Coalfield and OsSaloosa is still in
transit at some point, but can not be
located. = Secretary Speers will take
advantage of the necessity of closing
to do some repairs to the plant that
were contemplated later in the month.
Situation at Soldiers Home.
At the Soldiers Home Sunday NOR
ming it was announced that there was
a sufficient supply of coal on hand to
last twelve hours. BY careful hand
ling this will be made TO last until
tonight. A car load was delivered to
the Home this morning by the Greg
DRY company. which has the state
contract. This is one of the five cars
that reached the city Sunday. Com
mandant Horton was i'm conference
with the board of control over the
long distance phone this morning and
the board is trying to relieve the situ
alton by purchasing a car at ColfaX
Whether it can reach the city before the
present supply is exhausted or not
to be seen. The commandment
has on hand between twenty anG
thirty cords of wood. which will be
used if necessary, and should it come
to the worst it is likely some of the
timber would be cut down and burned.
In order to help the situation us
much as possible, and prevent the use
of coal in heating the main building
and old peoples building during the
day times, the commandment has given
orders for all who can to walk as
much as possible. and the more feeble
to 20 to bed. where they Will keep
warmer. The heat is saved as much
rs possible in these two buildings. and
is not being turned on full force dur
ing the day time. In the old peoples
building the members are congregatins
in the parlors. instead of their individ-
ual rooms. So far the usual amount
Of heat has been used at the Home
= 70. 10 ,r;,, ~ ., ta1