The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-15
Hall of Coal Yards Empty;
Suffer in Unheated Homes.
Worst Condition in City's His
tory, Says Fuel Official.
BIG FACTORIES SHUT DOWN
1OO,0OO Thrown Out of Work in
Cleveland by Fuel Famine.
Washington Conference Decides
Railroads Are to Blame.

New York, Dec. 15.-Wlth nalI Oh
New Yorlx's coal yards empey and sur
fering increasing in the unheated
homes of the poor, the fuel admins
traitors today exerted all their efforts
to release thousands of tons of coal
tied up at tidewater, or in snowbound
cars at siding.
ed as the most serious in the history OF
the city Hundreds of tenements and
homes are without heat, some rae
tories have been compelled to shut
down and churches, schools, theaters
and public halls are affected.
While Reeve Schley, local fuel ad-
ministrator, was hopeful that the sit
uasion would be relieved before night,
Charles S. Allen, spokesman for the
association of wholesale dealers in
the city, believes that even when con-
ditionS become normal New York can
not expect a surplus supply this win
ter. The shortage of labor here has
increased the problem of removing
snow. While about $4,000 persons
are needed to clear the streets only
1000 shovelers have been obtained
and the street cleaning department
has issued a call for women helpers
in an effort to make up for the short
age.
Place Blame on Railroads.
Washington, Dec. 15.-After a
conference with Fuel Administrator
Garfield today, Chairman A. W.
Thompson of the operating committee
of the eastern railroads declared the
coal famine was due more to short
age of transportation facilities than
shortage of coal.
The operating committee, he said is
trying to overcome this by re-routing
coal shipments.
To relieve the situation in Michigan,
solid train loads of coal are being sent
from Kentucky and Ohio lake ports.
Chairman Thompson and Admins
traitor Garfield went over the whole
transportation question very exhaus-
lively with the result that with the
Encouragement of shipments on rail-
roads some immediate Improvement in
the situation is hoped for. Their plan
would be to supply coal to localities
from the nearest producing or ship
ping center instead of over the lines
C ordinary trade.
Throw 100000 Out of Work.
Cleveland, O., Dec. 15.-With close
to 100000 men and women thrown
out of work because of the shutting
down of more than one hundred fac
tories and the reported suffering of
close to 10000 families, because of
lack of fuel. Federal Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield was appealed to at Wash
ington today to rush coal to CIeve-
land. Twenty thousand cars of lake
consigned COAL he was told, are stand
ing on Kentucky tracks.
Ohio Rencws Plea.
Columbus, o., Dec. 15.-In a tele-
gram declaring that Cleveland schools,
hospitals and other utilities will have
to close unless they obtain coal i'm
mediately, Governor Cox pleaded to
federal authorities for priority order
which would permit quick coal ship
ments to Cleveland from eastern Ohio.
Ship Building Plant Short.
Quincy, Mass, Dec. 15.-Because of
a shortage of coal the Fore River
plant of the Bethlehem Ship Building
Co, which has been running night
and day for some time, was not in
operation last night Officials of the
company said that the plant would be
operated during the day only until
further notice but that they were
hopeful of obtaining. larger supply
of fuel soon.