The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-11-08
COAL FAMINE IS y
GETTING NEARER
EVEN osKALoosA is BEGINNING
TO FEEL 1T.
CAMP DODGE MUST HAVE FUEL
Governments Order For $4,000 Tons
Takes About one.Third Of the
Iowa Produetion-Trees May
BE Sacrificed.

BE Sacrificed. .....
The coal situation in Oskaloosa,
4 typical of all Iowa localities, is acute,
\ and probably the most serious it has
ever been. Coal cannot be bought
at any price. The Iowa and Illinois
i operators are far behind in filling
4 their, orders and will not promise
I scheduled shipments to the dealers.
Most local coal yards are empty, and
| a number of cases of suffering from
lack of fuel are coming to light.
H On top of the present critical stu
1 alton the government has demanded
that the Iowa mines furnish $4,000
tons of coal during the first fifteen
days of this month for Camp Dodge.
4 This amount of fuel equals about one
third of the total output of the ship.
d ping mines ~ 4. *A
n Many contributory Causes.
| The railroad strike held back the
shipment of much fuel and served to
/ make the falaine more serious. A
final settlement was recently reached,
and the miners were granted an in
crease. A raise in coal prices went
into effect yesterday. Coal went up
45 cents a ton, according to govern
ment schedule.
Some dealers report that shipments
are on the way to Oskaloosa and
should reach here this week. The
coal in the yards is already sold, and
orders on file in the local offices will
wipe out any small supply which may
reach the city.
1t might be added that Oskaloosa
coal men are selling as per govern
1 ment schedule. The local fuel com
mittec, appointed by the government
coal administrator, has investigated
local coal conditions, and is regulat-
ing the prices.
Dealers Tell Of Situation.
4 Des Moines, Iowa, Nov Blame
n for Iowa's present hard coal shortage
was laid at the door of the farmers
by thirty-two coal dealers in session
yesterday with Charles Webster, fed
eral coal administrator for Iowa, at
Lne state mousse. rS' -'
4 Senator Haskell Of Cedar Rapids
stated before the dealers that farmers
had come into Cedar Rapids for a
distance of fifteen miles and that
they had been given the best of the
hard coal because they had the
money.
His assertion was substantiated by
a representative of a coal firm of
Des Moines.
Cash Got First Call.
The dealers admitted they sold
their coal to the one who could pay
cash.
IF this condition continues" said
Senator Haskell, the people will be-
gin to cut down their trees, and then
there will be treeless Des Moines."
| Cedar Rapids was said not to have
more than 5000 tons of coal, or
for five days use.'
A shortage was declared not to
exist in Des Moines, but rather to
be a state of mind.
III inc VI lhS olluoLioH, a
coal concern of Chicago wired Mr.,
Webster this morning that it could
be drawn upon to the extent of If
ty cars of hard coal to be used in
those communities where an actual
shortage was evident.
Little sympathy was expressed for
the dealer who had failed to lay in
a supply during the summer. The
i dealers declared that laying in a
large supply was conservation and
not boarding.
Governor Urges Patriotism
I Governor Harding in his address
to the dealers asked that as a patri-
otto measure the dealers. cut down
marginal profits in order toNkeep men
employed He said that there would
be little patriotism when one was
hungry and cold. He declared that
he was absolutely opposed to any
step on the part of the government in
taking charge of coal mines. The
dealers warned against any such
measure on the part of the govern
ment which would disturb the pres
ent channels of handling coal. 1t
was declared that the dealers and the
railroads were doing all possible to
prevent shortage and to prevent
1 u. - 1.