The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-24
ReOpening of Mines Would
Provide so Per Cent Relief.
c. III. Banner Sends Telegram
to Administrator Carey.
DEALERS IN A CONFERENCE
Less Than 1000 Tons Now in
Topeka Yards.
Shortage of Cars Keeping Many
Miners Idle.

Reopening of the Usage county coal
mines will provide IS to so per cent
relief from the Topeka famine. ac-
cording to a telegram sent by c. H
Danner today to Emerson Carey of
Hutchinson, state fuel administrator
banners telegram was sent following
a conference with Topeka coal dealers
in labor department offices in the
state house. In order to provide re-
lief from a critical condition in To-
peka, Danner urged that box ears and
stock cars be provided for shipment
of fuel.
There is less than 1000 tons of coal
in Topeka yards at this time. retailers
told Danner. That may sound like
fair supply. Yet H. L. Peppmeyer of
the Topeka Coal company. said it was
just one per cent of the city's needs
for the year. Peppmeyer declared
200, 900 tons of coal would be needed
to keep Topeka warm this winter. OF
this requirement, a bare ten per cent
is in the bins and Easements of local
consumers
Look to Usage Field.
Topeka must now look to the Usage
fields for the bulk of the winters
coal supply, Danner announced at the.
conference. If the Usage field is oper-
ated at capacity and adequate ship
ping facilities are provided, the LOCAL
coal administrator believes IS to 80
per cent of the needs of the town can
be met. With shipments from other
fields Topeka may be able to keep
warm. Yet everything is predicated
on 'if' and may" A slip in any of
the plans means much suffering here
News from Kansas City today to
the effect that an agreement had been
reached concerning opening of the
Usage fields, was good news to Dan
ner and the Topeka retailers. 1t may
mean the towns salvation should con-
ditions in other fields fail to show an
improvement.
Il don't see how Topeka will keep
ning,Y said H. L. Peppmeyer, who be-
lieved the town should look at the
hole as well as the doughnut- There
isn't to exceed 1000 tons of coal in
can rake and scrape without finding
more. 1t will require 100000 tons to
meet demands this winter. l think /
am making fair estimate when I say
that not more than one-tenth of the
demand has been supplied"
As a result of the statements of
conditions, Danner sent the following
telegram to Administrator Carey:
Have just held conference with coal
dealers of Topeka and they are of the
opinion if labor trouble now in existence
at Usage City mines can be adjusted and
| box and stock cars, preferably stock cars.
can be placed at these mines, the Sftua-
ton in Topeka can be relieved over 40 per
cent Conditions here are very critical
at this time. Advise what action will be
taken"
Many of the towns in the south
eastern Kansas mining district are
suffering from the coal shortage, ac-
cording to reports received by Dan
ner. Some of the big mines in the
Cherokee and Crawford county dis
tricts have closed and hundreds of
miners are said to be idle
Shortage of cars is keeping hundreds
of miners idle and is holding back the
needed production from the mines." said
Danner. Unless action is taken at once
! by the state and federal administra tors.
/ hardships and suffering will be common
! in many localities In many towns it is
simply impossible to buy coal and some
/ of the most serious cases reported have
come from southern and eastern Kansas
! towns only short distance from the coal
| fields"