The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-13
Director Carey Also Asks Pref
erential r. r. Car Movement.
Wires Garfield Shortage in
Kansas Is Getting Serious.
USE OIL AS COAL SUBSTITUTE
State Federal Board in Session
Hears Chorus of Kicks.
Peppmeyer Declares Frisco Car
Shortage Cutting Supply.

Communicating of fuel oil and
preferential movement of cars in
handling coal was the solution of the
Kansas fuel situation as approved by
the state advisory committee in session
this afternoon with Emerson Carey,
state administrator, of Hutchinson.
kilograms were sent to Federal AG-
ministrator Garfield inquiring con-
corning the scope and latitude of the
state board. If permission is given to
commander fuel oil, it is believed con-
ditions can be relieved.
Conditions in the state are serious.
Members of the advisory committee
admitted it. Imminent danger of suf-
| ferlng in many localities was outlined
by committee members as a result of
| the ina bility of local dealers to meet
| demands Hundreds of consumers
have withheld their orders. Now, it
| is declared, the markets are swamped
with orders that cannot be filled.
| Many Industrial plants are unable to
secure adequate fuel supplies altno
they possess contracts.
Relief thru the use of fuel oil was
one of the hints at the days confer
| ence. In fact, it is believed that with
the practical use of the states enor-
nous oil production, fuel oil may be
successfully used instead of coal dur
ing the winter months. Only in
limited number of Industrial plants,
tho have arrangements been made for
burning oil and few of the railroads
can provide oil burners for their en-
gineS in time to make heavy reduc-
tionS in their winter consumption of
coal Administrator Garfield will be
urged, tho, to permit the state board
to take over the OIL
Cities. Make Complaints
complaints concerning local condi-
tions.s Reports from all sections of
the state indicated an abnormalIy low
reserve supply of fuel. 1t was stated
that dealers had refused to buy
heavily because of the new federal
on short time and cannot provide
against demands arising through an
early cold snap. In many towns con-
sumers have waited for the expected
drop in prices and have made prac-
tically no provision for buying fuel.
Car shortages exist in almost every
state Nor was there strong indi-
cation that immediate relief would be
provided. Immediate investigation
will be made concerning operating
| conditions, production and number of
men employed in all mines Mines
are running only forty per cent of the
time because of shortage of cars for
transportation, according to informa-
! ton received carey from some OF
the big producing districts.
Carey Asks Coal Cars.
| As a result of the condition, the
following telegram was sent to Ad-
ministrator Garfield in Washington:
AT a meeting of our advisory committee
today 1t is reported that mines working
| on commercial coal running only 40
per cent of the time due to lack of cars.
Our state is fast approaching a serious
! shortage of coal 1t is the opinion OF the
/ committee that the situation could be re
lieved II preferential movement OF cars,
both loaded and empty, was required, also
use of cars for other purposes curtailed
Efforts will be made to secure per-
mission for preferential movement of
all cars and detailed regulation as to
the movement of all orders. Efforts
will also be made by the state board
to provide against use of coal cars for
purposes other than the hauling of
coal.
Towns thruout the state have COM
planned about combinations and agree
ments by retailers and local dealers.
At today's meeting protests were read
from Topeka, Manhattan, Scott City,
Fort Scott, Galena and other cities.
; Heavy car shortages exist on the
: | Frisco lines in southeastern Kansas,
according to a statement this after
5 noon by H L. Peppmeyer, head of the
| Topeka Coal company. Coal car
} shortages on the Frisco amount to
4OO or 5OO cars DAY, or a slump in
the lines hauling power of from 16,-
900 to 10000 tons day. Peppmeyer
will discuss the matter with Governor
Capper this afternoon.
Much of the coal from Cherokee
and Crawford county mines is distrib-
uted over Frisco lines. According to
the Topeka man several hundred cars
have been taken from the Kansas
lines and sent to Illinois to handle
I shipments into Alabama and south
ern states.
THE Frisco is short 400 to 500 cars
a day in the southeastern Kansas dis
trict, according to information 1 have
received" said Peppmeyer That
means they are handling $1,000 to
10000 tons a day less than normal
capacity. These cars have been sent
TO handle coal from the Illinois mines
which is sent to Alabama and other
southern states and sold in a COM
petition with southern coal, because
the price is 5 cents cheaper 1t takes
one of these cars about two weeks
to make the round trip. And while
the movement of Illinois coal is under
way, Kansas will suffer"