Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-10
COAL SITUATION BAD;
COLD WEATHER COMING
[Continucd from First Page.l

situation is not really bad, and Is
steadily improving. The dealer stat
ed that he had about 125 tons IN his
yard, and is receiving steadily to-day
one order for immediate delivery
every minute.
Various Opinions
Coal offices were busy places this
morning. In every one visited by the
reporter there were an unusual num-
ber of customers standing about
waiting their turn to fill out their
cards and put in their orders for
coal. The Wallis Coal Company
stated they were fairly well fixed,
but had nothing but the larger sizes.
The United Ice and Coal Company
gave out this morning that they
have nothing but large egg and
buckwheat coal on hand, and have
enough of this to last only six days
at the most. These dealers, like all
others, have their orders for coal
placed. but have no idea when they
will be filled. An official at the Unit
ed Ice and Coal Company estimated
that there are seven or eight dealers
in the city without any ocal.
Walter Montgomery, head of the
Retail Coal Dealers Association. said
the situation is bad. He stated that
there are families with children, and
because of the lack of coal. He said
he sees no relief in sight, as his COM
pany has had coal ordered for three
months, with no prospects yet OF get
ting it.
The regular meeting of the Dau-
phin County Coal Commission takes
place this afternoon at a o'clock
No measures of unusual importance
are scheduled for consideration at
fs, 1nn nnIT n
members of the commission that
while the dealers are not well fixed,
the people of the city as whole
will not suffer, as most of them
have been well supplied previously
to the arrival of the severe weather
of the last two days.
Whole City Shivers
For two days and nights Harris
burg has been gripped by cold wave
that last night reached tempera-
ture as low as six degrees above
zero, and the whole city has been
that have made 1t harder than even
in the history of the city to supply
equate heat in the offices, stores,
and dwellings,. One of the worst coal
shortages in fifty years, and the fail
ure of the heating apparatus of the
Harrisburg Light and Power Com
pany, were two of the factors that
made it so difficult to cope with the
cold weather of the last two days.
The cold wave followed almost im-
mediately the. severe snoWstorm OF
SATURDAY. and in a. a few Dy., hours the the
between six and ten degrees. There
is no relief in sight, according to the
statement of the weather bureau, as
the whole United States east of the
Rocky Mountains is enveloped by the
cold wave. The temperature in Har-
risburg is expected to, fall to some
degrees below zero tonight
nE lea
The river is generally icebound, at
some places the ice attaining thick
ness of six or more inches. The rec
ords of the weather department place
about four inches. The lake at WI d.
wood Park is frozen. and will be in
vestigated this afternoon to see IL the
ice is thick enough for skating.
The surface, however, is covered with
snow.
The cold wave following so closely
on the snowstorm of Saturday has
caused numerous minor accidents
and discomforts due. to icy pave
ments, and difficult traffic conditions.
No serious accidents have been re-
ported. however, either at the hos
Traffic all over the city even in
the business sections, has been great
ly hindered by the blocked condi-
busy all over the city this morning
improving street conditions.
Steam Heat Falls
The city shivered in their homes
yesterday when their steam heat radi-
ators failed to give off any heat, and
some business offices were too cold
for occupancy this morning. The out
lying portions of the town suffered
most from the low steam pressure at
the plant of the Harrisburg Light and
Power Company Manager Kaltwas-
ser said this morning. the trouble
was due to fault of the pump that
removes the ashes from the furnace
of the boiler. When seen this morning
Mr.. Kaltwasser stated that the new
pump had been ordered for months,
and did not arrive till Saturday, due
to an embargo. He said the pump
would be installed some time to-day
and the Light and Power Company
will be able to take of the situation
that may develop during the rest of
the winter ~
The unusual prosperity of the times
was evidenced at the police station
last night. when not single wan
derer appealed for a nights lodging
out of the cold This is in direct
contract to almost all previous win
terS.