The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08

that they nigh avoid the cold. The
same condition is likely to prevail
again tonight
The condition may be improved over
what it was last night, and officers of
the local gas company are in hopes
that it will be. But at that there is
no hope that the gas shortage will
end With conditions improved there
may still be gas shortage.
There is revival of talk about
compelling the pipe line companies to
supply the towns inside the state with
gas before piping it outside the state.
The gas that is consumed in Kansas
City would more than keep Topeka
warm.
ST.. Joseph, Mo-, also situated on
dead end" line is also feeling the
pinch of the gas famine.
In many cases the gas went out last
night in homes where there was sick
ness. Coal men tried to fill orders
from such places first.
One Store Closes.
The employees of the Todd Hat shop
at 917 North Kansas avenue were sent
home today because of the failure of
the gas. The lack of the fuel is keeniJ
felt on the Northside. Many houses are
without heat and in the business dis
trict the shortage is causing trouble.
The hope of the officers of the local
gas company is that the weather will
moderate so that the demand for gas
w
and more is pumped into the mains it is
hoped the situation here can be re-
lieved.
So weak is the gas pressure in Potwin
that at the Stornont hospital at IL
o'clock today it was impossible to light
heat the hospital.
At Christ's hospital that part of the
building which is heated by gas is cold
and the pressure is growing weaker.
Part of the building is heated with coal
AT the Keith hospital 1T was necessary
to shut off gas everywhere in the hos
pital outside the kitchen in order to
secure heat enough to cook the pa
tents monday meal. The hospital is
heated by gas and beyond the keeping
failure.
The gas went out last night in many
districts. In the outlying districts the
gas went out altogether and in other
places it burned so lowly that it did no
good and could hardly be seen or felt.
At 10 o'clock the gas came back but
there was, according to many of those
who shivered beside CRATES and stoves,
no heat in the fame it produced. AT
$3.50 o'clock this morning the gas sup
ply was much more nearly normal but
at 7:S0 O'Clock it began going down
again.
Lawrence. Atchison, Leavenworth, h,
and Kansas City seem to be having no
trouble with a shortage of gas but every
day since the beginning of the present
cold spell there has been a time when
the gas was not equal to the task of
heating and lighting the houses of the
people who have depended upon it.
1t is declared by those who say they
know that Mr.. Treleaven was correct in
his statement yesterday that so per cent
more meters could be attached to and
supplied with gas by the present sys-
tenn, but it is also declared the gas
would be worthless when it reached the
consumer 1t is declared that unless
there is high pressure on the gas it
does not give out heat and the illumi-
mating power is not so good. 1t is de-
clared there is little warmth in the gas
that reaches Topeka now because it is
too thin and the pressure is not what
it should be.
The news that the coolest of the cold
spell is over is cheering news to To-
pekans who have shivered for several
days now, because of the insufficient
gas supply. Many of them will be
burning coal by the time the next cold
spell arrives.