The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-12
MERCURY is
RISING AFTER
RECORD SNAP

ture activities OF the Edison con
pany depend entirely upon seathel
conditions and the rapidly vit,
which coal 10 received.
The Ed son company had varns'
name scturers and others nat y
had a supply sufieisnt oniy GO last
until Tuesday night. but o~tng ,e
the more liberal receipts this time
has been extended. Meantime. how
ever. II behooves every user OF cleo
tric current TO economic against
the time when the entire supply may
be cut OF Mr.. Dow says he viii
continue 20 advertise the condition
~ his fuel supply In the afternoon
newspapers so that the eonsumers
may be kept posted
Monday morning the Louisville q
Nashville railroad announced that II
would put in effect an embargo on
coal destined for Detroit This road
IN the past has brought 20 this city
one-nfth OF the supply used BY the
Edison company. However. this An
rouncement Was more than osset oy
The announcement az the Chesa-
peake q Ohio railroad that is en-
barro had been lifted This road
furnishes the Edison company with
two-afths OF i;s fuel. so that the
company gains 20 per cent By a
trading OF The one embargo against
the other.
Street cars were very cold Mon
day. bur oscials OF the company said
this was not due 10 the shortage OF
coal. but rather 20 the cold weather.
The small heating stoves In the cars
were not adequate 20 cope with the
below-Sero temperatures. IL 10 an
nouncd that the d. L. r has q sup
ply q. coal for It's cars that VII last
for a week or more. The steam coal
In hand viii keep up power for the
cars for two weeks more. and there
IL a goodly supply Of fusi on the
way. II the weather noderatss. the
railway will be able 10 maintain its
regular service.
Owing to the frequent warnings OF
Mr.. Dow. large users OF electric cur
rent In Detroit are doing their best
"a economics. An evidence OF this
was contained in a letter received
by the Edison company Monday
from the Photoplay Exhibitors 80
eie;y stating that a letter had been
sent 10 all exhibitors in the city
asking them TO cut OF as much q.
possible from the electricity used
for display purposes. The picture
houses almost unanimously have
agreed TO cut out AL advertising
lights save only the name OF the
theGter.
II was no longer 4 prospect OF
few factories closing. Unless relief
should come from some unexpected
source almost Immediately. II sp
peared inevitable that not alone
would factories be obliged 10 close.
but that homes would be forced 20
close.
Not alone was IL question OF
labor 10 deliver the coal. but II vas
the total inadeduaey % the rail
roads TO bring the coal TO Detroit
that has been purchased II Is on
cars marked for Detroit. but the
railroad equipment fails az the cru
eial moment. When people are on
the verge OF freezing. the locomo
lives also freeIe up The result is
that because OF the dimculty loco
motives have IN making steam. II
nov requires two LOCOMOTIVES 10
switch a train Of ave loaded coal
cars. Ordinarily. one locomotive
can handle Is cars nicsly. ----------
The United Fuel 4 supply com
pany. Pittmsns q D~sn and other
large coal dealers have been care
fuI TO arrange for an adequate sup
ply OF fuel At the mines The whole
dificuiiy is In the transportation
and the delivery after the black
diamonds" reach Detroit.
Here In the situation according
to the best expert opinion. II the
cold weather keeps up there Is suf-
ncient coal IN Detroit 10 keep the
population from freezing for just
two days. After that. unless the
situation improves or the weather
modera,es. hundreds and even thod
sands OF Detroit homes may b.
forced 70 lock up their tront doors
and TO TO hotels or 20 live with
friends for a time.
Every railroad entering the city Is
Going " best 70 facilitate deliveries.
Tut all'Are suffering az Ia the con
.nunity from shorfas. OF fuel and
the necessity for greatly increased
amount Of a.
While the weather bureau records
are low enough TO place fear IN the
hearts II the average citiTsn. private
reports from the outskirts OF Detroit
cate that Temperatures a. low a.
2. degrees below 1ero we're record
ed. Most Of these reports came from
the north woodvard-sve. districi
Fire Department susy.
Over-heated stoves and furnaces
kept the Are department busy thru.
cut Sunday night. and alarms we're
coming in regularly AZ short Inter.
walls this morning. In some hrs eta.
tious the nremen hardly returned
| frnrn one call lce-coafed and hr.